With the Los Angeles Lakers buying and selling D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets, they misplaced a few of their backcourt depth. However in latest weeks, the constant, sturdy play from Austin Reaves, Max Christie and Gabe Vincent made the Lakers extra amenable to buying and selling Russell. However within the coming days, the Lakers are hoping that they will not lose Gabe Vincent to an prolonged time period as a result of harm.
Gabe Vincent suffered an indirect harm after a tough fall throughout the Lakers’ win in opposition to the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. He left the sport early for the locker room and didn’t return. Forward of the workforce’s recreation in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers on New Yr’s Eve, Vincent was formally listed as questionable.
With no Russell, Vincent’s potential absence would put a pressure on the Lakers’ backcourt rotation. Jalen Hood-Schifino, the Lakers’ 2024 first spherical choose, is at the moment sidelined as a result of a hamstring harm. Vincent’s inclusion on the harm report as questionable does not essentially imply that he will not be capable of play in opposition to the Cavs. A definitive replace probably will not come till just a few hours earlier than tip-off.
Assist might be instantly out there although for the Lakers’ backcourt in opposition to the Cavs. Whereas the principle acquisition within the commerce with the Nets was Dorian Finney-Smith, the Lakers additionally managed to seize Shake Milton within the deal as nicely.
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Milton might not be as broadly recognized to Lakers’ followers, however he’s succesful backup level guard and will help the Lakers ought to Vincent’s harm trigger him to be sidelined.
Milton appeared in 27 video games for the Nets, together with one begin, at a little bit over 18 minutes per recreation. He was averaging 7.4 factors, 1.9 rebounds and a couple of.4 assists with splits of 46.5 % capturing from the sphere, 38.9 % capturing from the three-point line and 75.8 % capturing from the free-throw line. In his closing recreation with the Nets, he put up 16 factors and 12 assists. If all goes nicely, each Finney-Smith and Milton ought to make their Lakers’ debut in opposition to the Cavs.
With Vincent, he had shaken off a sluggish begin to the 2024-25 season and had been taking part in rather more persistently in latest video games. In 31 video games this season, Vincent had been averaging 4.3 factors, 1.3 rebounds and 0.9 assists with splits of 37.3 % capturing from the sphere, 33 % capturing from the three-point line and solely 50 % from the free-throw line.
That is Vincent’s second season with the Lakers after signing as a free agent within the 2023 offseason. He had been coming off a powerful stint because the Miami Warmth’s place to begin guard throughout their run to the 2023 NBA Finals. Nonetheless, the previous UC Santa Barbara standout suffered a knee harm that restricted him to solely 11 video games.