Lakers free-agent signing has 'legitimate chance to steal' starting job

The Los Angeles Lakers bolstered their backcourt this offseason, re-signing Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell while adding former Heat guard Gabe Vincent in free agency. 

Vincent, who inked a three-year, $33 million deal after averaging 12.7 points and 3.5 assists in the postseason to help guide Miami to the NBA Finals, was an unexpected addition. At first glance, it appeared that the former undrafted free agent would fill a backup role, but the team seems to have bigger plans for him.

Per The Athletic's Jovan Buha, the Lakers will hold "an open competition" for this season's starting point guard job, with Vincent having "a legitimate chance to steal" it from Russell. Buha also notes that Vincent's strong defensive skills should give him an upper hand in late-game situation-based lineups.  

"[Vincent] is the better defender than Russell and a more natural off-ball fit as a lower-usage catch-and-shoot threat," Buha wrote. "Unlike Russell, Vincent's defensive chops prevent him from being played off the floor in the postseason, as he showed during the Heat's Finals run. At a minimum, Vincent is the early closer, much as Dennis Schröder often was last season, especially in critical matchups that require two-way players."

The Lakers acquired Russell at last season's trade deadline in a three-team deal with Minnesota and Utah. Russell initially played well upon returning to Los Angeles, posting 17.4 points and 6.1 assists before struggling in the playoffs, where he averaged 13.3 points and 4.6 assists per game.

Despite Russell's postseason inconsistencies and Vincent's arrival, Los Angeles still opted to sign the former No. 2 pick to a two-year, $37 million deal with a player option for 2024-25.

At this stage of small forward LeBron James' historic career, the 38-year-old desperately needs reliable shooting and defense around him on a nightly basis. While Vincent is only a career 33.9% three-point shooter, if Russell's play from the conference finals carries over to this season, it'll be tough to justify starting him.

On Thursday's episode of "First Take," 2008 NBA champion Kendrick Perkins said Anthony Davis is the key to Los Angeles' title hopes. Although that may be true, the Lakers will need players like Vincent and Russell to make significant contributions to make a deep playoff push.