Can Gabe Vincent Avoid Following The Footsteps Of Former Miami Heat Guard Kendrick Nunn?

The Miami Heat are often considered to have one of the most prominent systems in the NBA.

Coach Erik Spoelstra and the rest of their staff have allowed undrafted and under-the-radar players to succeed and sign multi-year contracts elsewhere.

Two of the most notable examples are point guards Kendrick Nunn and Gabe Vincent. Vincent signed with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason but should avoid following in the footsteps of Nunn if possible.

Nunn spent two seasons in Miami, averaging over 14 points and nearly one steal. However, these numbers halved after he signed a two-year, roughly $10 million deal with the Lakers in the summer of 2021.

He sat out all of his first season with the team due to injury and was then traded to the Washington Wizards around the midpoint of last season. Nunn fell out of the rotation with the Wizards, averaging only 7.5 points.

The Lakers are hoping for much more out of Vincent, signing him to a three-year, $33 million deal this offseason. Vincent had more time than Nunn to develop in Miami’s system after spending four seasons with the team. He also does not show a heavy reliance on scoring like Nunn due to his playmaking and defensive ability.

Only time will tell how reliant players are on the Heat’s system but if Vincent fails in Los Angeles, players may become more hesitant to sign elsewhere.

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Anthony Pasciolla is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He can be reached at ampasciolla@gmail.com or follow him on Instagram @anthonypasci