Los Angeles, CA – As the Los Angeles Lakers kicked off training camp this week, the purple and gold faithful were buzzing with optimism. After a summer of shrewd moves, including signing free agents Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia (while inexplicably re-signing center Jaxson Hayes), and drafting former Arkansas Razorbacks forward Adou Thiero at No. 36 in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Lakers looked primed for a championship push. With JJ Redick at the helm, whispers of Ayton anchoring the center spot and Smart experimenting at small forward painted a picture of a revitalized roster ready to contend.
But beneath the surface, a dark cloud looms—one that could unravel the entire blueprint. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, head coach JJ Redick dropped a bombshell on Tuesday: Four key players are sidelined or limited in early practices. Marcus Smart, Adou Thiero, 21-time All-NBA superstar LeBron James, and veteran guard Gabe Vincent are all nursing issues that have forced them to the sidelines. While James’ absence is precautionary—vintage load management for the 40-year-old icon—the real horror story is Vincent’s recurring knee nightmare.
“We’ve just treated Gabe, and he’s expected to be ready to go by the end of the week,” Redick said matter-of-factly. “He should be able to suit up by Friday. It’s just from addressing that knee injury we dealt with last year.”
That “last year” reference? It’s a chilling reminder of the $33 million albatross hanging around the Lakers’ neck. Vincent inked a three-year, $33 million deal as a free agent in the summer of 2023, a pact that was supposed to bring Heat-honed perimeter defense and steady bench scoring to a Lakers squad desperate for backcourt stability. Instead, it’s morphed into a symbol of front-office folly, a contract that’s aged like milk in the LA sun.
Vincent’s Lakers tenure has been a parade of pain and underperformance. In his debut 2023-24 season, he missed all but 11 games, sidelined by the very knee issues that now haunt training camp. Last year, he clawed back to play 72 games (just 11 starts), but the numbers were a far cry from his semi-regular role as a starter in Miami. The UC Santa Barbara product averaged a meager 6.4 points on dismal shooting splits of .400/.353/.714, to go with 1.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 0.7 steals per night. It was efficient enough for a role player, but hardly the spark the Lakers envisioned when they handed over nine figures.
The true terror unfolded in the 2025 playoffs, where Vincent’s offensive regression hit rock bottom. Logging minutes comparable to his regular-season workload, he mustered just 2.8 points per game on 35.7% shooting (30.8% from deep), with 1.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists. Redick kept him on the floor for his stout perimeter defense—Vincent’s calling card from Miami—but even that felt like a concession to sunk costs. As the Lakers’ postseason dreams fizzled, Vincent became a punchline: a high-salary ghost haunting the rotation.
Now, with Marcus Smart’s arrival signaling a clear upgrade at guard, the writing’s on the wall. The Lakers appear poised to move on from the “Gabe Vincent Experience” long-term. At 11.5 million due next season before unrestricted free agency, Vincent’s trade value has cratered faster than a meme stock. Will the front office trot him out early to inflate his stats and shop him midseason? Or will another injury flare-up torpedo that plan, turning a questionable signing into a full-blown catastrophe?
Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ VP of basketball operations, has been effusive about newcomers like Ayton, whom he expects to “make a massive impact” with his rim protection and scoring touch. Ayton, Smart, and LaRavia could all see starting minutes right out of the gate, with Redick eyeing a bold lineup featuring Ayton at center and Smart sliding to the wing. Thiero, the raw but athletic Razorbacks alum, adds youthful upside off the bench. Even the Hayes re-signing—panned by many as redundant—bolsters frontcourt depth.
Yet, Vincent’s saga casts a long shadow. If his knee buckles again, it doesn’t just sideline a role player; it exposes the fragility of a roster banking on health from an aging LeBron, a 35-year-old Anthony Davis (who’s no stranger to the trainer’s room), and unproven imports. The Lakers’ offseason blueprint—bolster the core, add defensive grit, contend now—hinges on cohesion. One more extended absence, and that $33 million millstone could drag the entire operation under, forcing panic trades or a slide back into lottery territory.
NBA insiders are already whispering: Is this the contract that breaks the Lakers’ bank? As training camp intensifies, the terrifying truth is clear—Vincent’s injury burden isn’t just personal; it’s a ticking time bomb for a franchise with zero margin for error. Friday’s practice will offer a glimpse, but for now, Lakers Nation holds its breath. The season plan? It could collapse before tip-off.