Insider Calls New Laker One Of The Past Half-Decade's Most Overrated Players

This one hurts a bit!

Your Los Angeles Lakers made it clear in the 2023 offseason that even though the primary goal was to run it back with as many returners as possible, they were still looking to make marginal upgrades all around. LA fell to a Denver Nuggets squad that showed consistency all year and stuck together for multiple seasons despite injuries derailing them in the past.

It's been nothing short of a roller coaster ride for Lakers fans over the past couple of free agency periods and trade deadlines and this time, GM Rob Pelinka didn't go for any big home run signings. One of the most unexpected ones, however, was the three-year deal he gave to veteran point guard Gabe Vincent worth around $33 million.

Dennis Schroder returned to the Lakers last year and thrived off the bench for them, even being favored in certain lineups over D'Angelo Russell due to his ability to create offense and be a pest on defense. However, LA rolled with Vincent who's coming off of an excellent playoff run with the Miami Heat and whom is believed to be a better shooter.

However, it appears that Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report is not sold at all. He pointed out Vincent's inconsistent play in the regular season over the past few years as a huge red flag along with his size. In Bailey's list of the NBA's most overrated players in the last five years, Vincent came in at number four only behind RJ Barrett, DeAndre Hunter and Dillon Brooks.

"Vincent is 27 years old and has career marks of 7.7 points per game with a 49.9 two-point percentage and a 33.9 three-point percentage.And while those are definitely dragged down by two seasons in which he was fighting for his life, his 2022-23 stats aren't much better: 9.4 points with a 51.2 two-point percentage and a 33.4 three-point percentage.Those numbers in combination with the fact that Vincent is an undersized guard makes it difficult to celebrate his signing with the same enthusiasm that others in the media have."

(Via Bleacher Report)

LA has a ton of depth and offensive weapons this year so Vincent will not be asked to score in bunches but we do hope to see him raise that three-point percentage and remain respectable on defense.

He'll likely start the year off the bench, barring a surprise in training camp, and should continue to improve against second units.

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