Story by
Former Lakers Guard Gabe Vincent Turns Down Knicks Offer For Better Opportunity
- Story by
- Former Lakers Guard Gabe Vincent Turns Down Knicks Offer For Better Opportunity
Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
Former Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent remains a free agent ahead of the 2026-27 season, but he isn't in a hurry to accept any offer from the NBA.
According to Marc Stein , Vincent had a chance to sign with the defending champion New York Knicks , but he passed up opportunities because he was waiting for something more secure.
Advertisement
"The Stein Line has learned that former Heat, Lakers, and Hawks guard Gabe Vincent could have signed with the Knicks as well to join the wing battle but elected to wait for a more sure-fire opportunity."
The decision might sound surprising, but Vincent is 30 years old, remains unsigned with training camp fast approaching, and the Knicks are coming off an NBA championship.
But the Knicks are not ready to offer Vincent the roster security or a playing opportunity. Vincent had worked out with the Knicks before training camp, but they subsequently signed Bruce Brown, Ochai Agbaji, John Konchar, James Wiseman, and Drew Eubanks to training camp deals . Brown, Agbaji, and Konchar are competing for chances on the wing, while Wiseman and Eubanks are battling for a frontcourt spot.
The bigger question is the New York roster situation. Although the Knicks technically have two open roster spots, they are roughly $3.2 million below the second salary apron and, without another transaction, are expected to have the financial flexibility to convert only one of those training camp deals into a standard contract.
Advertisement
Salary cap expert Bobby Marks has noted the Knicks would likely need to cut down their salary through a trade to sign the 14th and 15th roster spots.
Vincent joining the competition would therefore offer no guarantee, even if he survived opening night cuts. Waiting for a team with a clear rotation opportunity does make sense, particularly considering the last few years of his career.
Vincent signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Lakers in 2023 after helping the Miami Heat reach the NBA Finals. The Lakers hoped that they were adding a tough defensive guard who could provide timely shooting in the postseason.
But instead, injuries destroyed much of his Lakers career. Knee problems limited Vincent to just 11 regular-season games during his first year with the Lakers, and he never consistently recaptured the impact he had with the Heat in 2023.
Advertisement
The Lakers ultimately traded Vincent and a future second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in February for Luke Kennard .
Across 53 games for the Lakers and the Hawks last season, Vincent averaged 4.4 points, 1.4 assists, and 1.0 rebounds while shooting 34.1% from three-point range. He also has career averages of 6.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists across 331 games.
These numbers mean Vincent isn't in a position to demand a big contract, but his decision shows that playing opportunity matters more than securing a training camp invite.
The gamble, of course, is that a better opportunity must come somewhere else. After spending recent seasons dealing with injuries and inconsistent roles, Vincent appears willing to be patient rather than enter a crowded Knicks competition with no guarantee of making the final roster.
