According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent is close to playing again.
Vincent has only played in five games this season. He underwent left knee surgery in December.
The Lakers signed Vincent to a three-year, $33 million contract last summer in free agency. Vincent appeared in the first four games of the season before missing 23 consecutive games. He made his return to the court on December 20 against the Chicago Bulls.
Vincent finished with three points against the Bulls while shooting 1-of-4 from the field. However, he experienced discomfort and soreness in his knee after the Bulls game and decided to have surgery.
The 27-year-old Vincent is averaging 5.4 points, 1.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists this season while shooting 37.5% from the field, 11.8% from beyond the arc and 50.0% from the foul line.
Vincent has career averages of 7.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists with the Miami Heat and Lakers. He’s making $10.5 million this season.
The Lakers are 37-32 on the season. They are in ninth place in the Western Conference standings. The front office didn’t make any trades at this year’s trade deadline despite being linked to several players.
However, general manager Rob Pelinka did sign Spencer Dinwiddie on the buyout market.
The Lakers are ninth in the NBA in points per game and 23rd in points per game allowed. They are back in action on March 22 when they host the Philadelphia 76ers, who are still playing without Joel Embiid.
“There’s a couple of new wrinkles we want to do on both sides of the ball and we’ll get a chance to look at,” Lakers head coach Darvin Ham said. “… No matter what’s happening around the league, or around the positioning with our team, if we don’t, again, try to be the best version of ourselves and take care of our own business, nothing else will matter.”
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