Once NBA free agency got underway this summer, the first move the Los Angeles Lakers made was signing former Miami Heat guard Gabe Vincent to a three-year deal worth $33 million, which would bolster the backcourt.
Although it seemed like a lot of money and a lot of years for a player who still might need to prove himself, the Lakers seemed confident in their move and received high praise for the deal.
Unfortunately for Los Angeles, Vincent has been unable to stay healthy for the Lakers during his first season with the team, as he’s played in only five games due to a nagging knee injury.
All signs have pointed to Vincent being done for the season, as there have been few updates on his progress over the course of the 2023-24 season until now.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Vincent appears to be nearing his return to the basketball floor for the Lakers as he intends to play again this season, which has only 13 games left.
With the Lakers once again having injury issues up and down their roster, this is good news for the storied NBA franchise, as Vincent will provide some much-needed depth in the backcourt as long as he’s able to play at 100% once he returns.
Along with Vincent being on the mend, the Lakers have had to deal with injuries to arguably their best on-ball defender, Jarred Vanderbilt, and forward/center Christian Wood, who both could be done for the season.
The Lakers are currently trying to stay in contention for the Play-In Tournament while hoping to potentially move up to No. 6 in order to punch their ticket to the NBA playoffs officially.
