The Los Angeles Lakers have been plagued by injuries this 2023-2024 season. Luckily, it hasn’t been with their top two players, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but rather it’s been with their depth pieces.
One of the main players who has missed an extended amount of time has been their top free-agent acquisition, guard Gabe Vincent. Vincent has only played five games this season; however, a return for the 27-year-old could be upon us, according to Yahoo NBA senior writer Jake Fischer.
Lakers guard Gabe Vincent, who’s become included in Los Angeles’ outgoing trade conversations, sources said, appears on track to return by early March. Vincent underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee during the final days of December. He was given an 8-10 week recovery period and has so far been recuperating on schedule, sources said.”
Vincent has missed the last month due to a left knee injury. He has rarely seen the court, and the Lakers have been missing his defensive approach to the team.
In five games this season, Vincent has averaged 5.4 points on 37.5% shooting from the field and 11% from the three-point line. He has also added three assists and one rebound per game.
Although Vincent hasn’t been available most of the season, he is among trade talks as we approach the trade deadline this Thursday. Granted, he has little to no value on the market, so a Vincent trade seems unlikely.
The Lakers could get Vincent back by early March, and hopefully, he will be able to play better and propel Los Angeles to a top-six seed in the Western Conference.
With the way that his season has gone, I wouldn’t hold your breath, though. It’s been an unfortunate start to his Lakers tenure, which could be over before it starts if he is traded.
