The Los Angeles Lakers are once again in the thick of trade chatter-and this time, it’s guard Gabe Vincent in the crosshairs of both fans and front office speculation. After a rough night against the Charlotte Hornets, Vincent found himself trending for all the wrong reasons. And with veteran point guard Chris Paul currently a free agent, Lakers fans wasted no time throwing his name into the mix as a potential replacement.
Let’s start with Vincent’s performance. In Thursday’s 135-117 loss to Charlotte, he logged 15 minutes and posted a stat line that’s tough to sugarcoat: 0 points, 0 assists, 0 steals, four fouls, and a shooting line of 0-for-7 from the field, including 0-for-5 from deep. For a player earning $11 million annually, per Spotrac, that kind of outing understandably sparked frustration among the Lakers faithful.
The timing couldn’t have been worse. Just as Vincent was struggling on the court, a video of Chris Paul draining shots in a solo workout began circulating online. Paul, recently waived by the Clippers, looked sharp-and fans on X (formerly Twitter) immediately began playing GM, calling for the Lakers to bring in the 12-time All-Star for what some are dubbing a “last dance” in purple and gold.
One fan summed up the sentiment bluntly: “Can’t be worse than Gabe Vincent.” Another chimed in, “Definitely better than Gabe. Not a discussion.”
Paul’s exit from the Clippers wasn’t without drama. According to reports, the split stemmed from philosophical differences between Paul and the organization.
Team President Frank Lawrence thanked Paul for his contributions and made it clear the veteran wasn’t being scapegoated for the team’s struggles. But behind the scenes, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that a meeting between Paul and head coach Ty Lue never materialized, signaling a breakdown in communication and leadership alignment.
Meanwhile, Vincent’s season numbers haven’t helped his case. He's averaging just 5.1 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game, shooting 33.7% from the field and 36.5% from three. While his perimeter shooting has been slightly better than his overall efficiency, the lack of impact across other areas-especially with the Lakers in need of reliable backcourt production-has raised questions about his role moving forward.
That brings us to the looming trade deadline on February 5. Reports indicate the Lakers are actively exploring deals involving Vincent and forward Jarred Vanderbilt.
The goal? Land a more dynamic wing player.
There’s even talk of including future draft capital-like the 2032 first-round pick-to sweeten the pot. It’s a clear signal that the Lakers are willing to make bold moves to maximize their current window.
But don’t count Vincent out just yet. Head coach JJ Redick has been vocal about his appreciation for Vincent’s leadership qualities.
In fact, he’s mentioned Vincent in the same breath as Marcus Smart when it comes to setting an example for rookie Bronny James. That kind of endorsement might just be enough to keep Vincent in the locker room-at least for now.
Still, with the Lakers sitting at a crossroads and the trade deadline fast approaching, every underwhelming performance carries a little more weight. And with a future Hall of Famer like Chris Paul floating in free agency, the pressure is only mounting.
Whether Vincent stays or goes, one thing is clear: the Lakers are in evaluation mode. And in L.A., where expectations are sky-high and patience is in short supply, the margin for error is razor-thin.