NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers unwilling to part ways with $11 million guard amid potential roster revamp

The LA Lakers are reportedly more committed to keeping backup point guard Gabe Vincent in the 2024-25 NBA season. This comes after multiple trade rumors involving Vincent emerged, following the Lakers' sluggish start to the campaign. The guard looks to have found a temporary home at least for the rest of the season.

According to The Athletic's Jovan Buha, the Purple & Gold aren't planning on trading Vincent this season. The point guard has been linked with a trade away from LA amid his struggles.

"I think the Lakers are more open to the possibility of keeping Gabe," the insider said on Buha's Block. (Timestamp: 43:30)

Vincent is in his second season with the Lakers and has not been able to improve his numbers. This season, the 6-foot-3 guard has played 29 games, averaging 4.4 points and 1.3 rebounds. He's also shot a lowly 38% from the field and 34% from long-range.

His low numbers this season aren't far from what he averaged in his first season with the team. During the 2023-24 season, he averaged 3.1 points and 1.9 assists in 11 games.

Vincent is still under contract with Los Angeles, as he signed a three-year $33 million deal in 2023. The point guard is still in the second year of his contract, earning $11 million this season.

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Lakers still linked to Washington Wizards big man

This season, the LeBron James-led roster still wants to make improvements to its squad. Jonas Valanciunas, a center for the Washington Wizards, is one player who has been connected to the 18-time NBA champions. According to Jake Fischer, Valanciunas is one of the players to be linked to the team.

"Who are the most attainable big men across the next six weeks? One of the more attractive trade candidates this winter, of course, is Washington’s Jonas Valanciunas. The Lithuanian’s three-year, $30 million deal with the Wizards last summer landed a few beard hairs below the league’s mid-level exception and comes fully non-guaranteed in Year 3. That’s a really movable contract for a starting-caliber center, especially one who’s been often mentioned by league figures as a top target for the Lakers," Fischer reported.

There are other big men being linked to the team via trade rumors. Aside from Valanciunas, Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III and Utah Jazz's Walker Kessler have been mentioned as potential trade targets.

"If it’s not Valanciunas, Portland’s Robert Williams III stands as perhaps the most coveted center on this season’s trade market... Another hard-to-read big man situation: While Jazz center Walker Kessler has generated plenty of interest — he’s another notable Lakers’ target, sources say."

So far, Los Angeles reportedly hasn't made proposals to teams around the league.