In what has become a summer of calculated movement for the Los Angeles Lakers, recent reports have surfaced that the front office has actively attempted to find trade partners for guard Gabe Vincent and forward Maxi Kleber in a bid to free up salary cap space. According to NBA insider Brett Siege, the Lakers have been shopping both players within the last 24 hours, engaging teams in exploratory talks. However, none of these conversations have advanced beyond the preliminary stages, as potential trade partners reportedly insisted on the inclusion of a draft pick as compensation—something the Lakers were hesitant or unwilling to attach.
The core motivation behind these discussions appears to be financial flexibility. As currently constructed, the Lakers are navigating an increasingly rigid cap situation. Following the re-signing of LeBron James and the impending extensions of key players like Anthony Davis, the team is staring down the barrel of a hefty luxury tax bill. The Lakers’ brass is well aware that in order to remain competitive while simultaneously preparing for future opportunities—whether that be a star acquisition or the capacity to reshape the roster—they need to find creative avenues to shed some salary. Trading away role players like Vincent and Kleber, while retaining key rotation contributors and core stars, would seem like an ideal compromise. Yet, as the Siege report underscores, no deal comes easy in today’s cap-conscious NBA.
Gabe Vincent was signed last offseason to a three-year, $33 million contract after a standout playoff run with the Miami Heat. Expectations were high that he could serve as a steady hand off the bench, perhaps even functioning as a secondary ball-handler alongside or behind D’Angelo Russell. However, Vincent’s time in Los Angeles has been marred by injuries and inconsistency. He appeared in only 11 games during the 2023-24 regular season, failing to make a tangible impact and raising questions about his long-term fit with the roster. From a trade value standpoint, Vincent’s salary may not be massive, but his health record and drop in productivity have significantly diminished his perceived value around the league.
Maxi Kleber, acquired in a midseason trade from the Dallas Mavericks, was expected to bring shooting, size, and defensive versatility to the Lakers’ frontcourt. While he did show flashes of his old self—especially on the defensive end—his overall impact was muted. Kleber struggled to consistently hit his shots and wasn’t able to find a rhythm in the Lakers’ system. Furthermore, his $11 million salary for the upcoming season places him in a challenging bracket: not expensive enough to be considered a salary anchor, but not cheap enough to be absorbed without conditions by most cap-strapped teams. As a result, teams insisted on a sweetener in the form of a draft pick to take on Kleber’s deal—something the Lakers have historically guarded jealously.
For the Lakers, this moment is a delicate one. The franchise has a small window in which LeBron James, even at 40 years old, remains capable of leading a team deep into the playoffs. Anthony Davis is still in his prime, and the supporting cast—while flawed—contains promising young talent and proven veterans. General Manager Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office are trying to thread a difficult needle: remain competitive in the present without completely mortgaging the future. That balancing act means that every asset, especially future draft picks, is weighed carefully. In this context, attaching a draft pick simply to offload salary is viewed as a short-sighted move unless it creates a clear pathway to a more significant improvement.
That kind of caution isn’t new. The Lakers have often operated conservatively when it comes to draft capital. After sending a bevy of picks out in the deals that brought Anthony Davis to Los Angeles and, later, in other rotation reshuffles, they have shown increasing reluctance to include picks in anything short of a star trade. Given the league’s current emphasis on preserving draft flexibility, many teams see draft picks as the ultimate leverage tool in a deal. That’s why rival teams feel emboldened to demand a pick when the Lakers come knocking with mid-tier salaries they want to dump. From the outside looking in, it’s a logical ask—but from the Lakers’ internal view, those picks are too valuable to throw in just to facilitate salary dumps.
Still, the fact that the Lakers even initiated these trade conversations signals an evolving approach. Whether it’s to clear room for a future acquisition, avoid a crushing tax bill, or open up a roster spot for a younger, more dynamic contributor, it’s clear the team sees change as necessary. It’s also telling that both Vincent and Kleber were mentioned as expendable. That speaks volumes about their standing within the organization’s long-term vision. The front office, likely in collaboration with head coach JJ Redick and LeBron’s inner circle, appears to be prioritizing players who can remain healthy, fit seamlessly into modern offensive systems, and contribute to winning basketball right away.
For fans, the report is both encouraging and frustrating. Encouraging because it shows that the front office is being proactive, trying to optimize the roster ahead of training camp. Frustrating because once again, the Lakers are handcuffed by decisions made in previous offseasons—Vincent’s contract now looks like an overpay, while Kleber’s role remains unclear. The lack of traction in these talks could also suggest that the Lakers may need to lower their asking price or get more creative if they are truly committed to shedding salary.
Of course, this news also raises speculation about what the Lakers might be trying to create space for. Are they eyeing a potential free agent still on the market? Is there a bigger trade in the works that requires clearing cap room or roster spots? Or are they simply trying to keep their books clean to maintain flexibility heading into the trade deadline? These are the types of questions that will continue to swirl until more concrete moves are made. It wouldn’t be out of character for the Lakers to attempt a consolidation trade—a move that would package multiple contracts for a single, higher-impact player. Such deals are hard to pull off, but they remain a viable path forward, especially if the front office can find a partner willing to engage seriously.
The Lakers’ lack of movement also speaks to a broader market trend in the NBA. Fewer teams are willing to absorb salary without meaningful incentives. The new collective bargaining agreement has made cap space even more precious, and second-apron penalties are driving teams to be even more cautious. That environment makes transactions like the one the Lakers are attempting difficult to complete. Even fringe rotation players need to be attached to draft capital or promising youth to find a home elsewhere. That may explain why despite multiple conversations, no deal progressed into advanced negotiations.
So where do the Lakers go from here? That remains to be seen. If they decide to hold onto both Vincent and Kleber heading into the season, they’ll need to find a way to reintegrate them meaningfully into the rotation. Both players have something to offer when healthy and in rhythm, but they’ll need to perform at a higher level to reestablish value, whether to the Lakers or other teams. Alternatively, the front office might revisit trade conversations closer to the trade deadline, when the financial landscape shifts and teams become more open to maneuvering.
The Lakers’ current roster is far from perfect, but it remains potent if used correctly. Redick will face the tall task of maximizing what he has while waiting for possible reinforcements. Until then, the Lakers’ front office must remain vigilant and patient. The coming weeks and months will test their ability to operate within the league’s financial constraints while pursuing their championship aspirations. If nothing else, the report from Brett Siege confirms what many already knew: the Lakers are still working the phones, and they haven’t given up on reshaping this team just yet.
Whether these attempts eventually bear fruit depends not only on the Lakers’ willingness to include incentives but also on how the rest of the league values their assets. With little traction over the last 24 hours, it seems likely that Los Angeles will need to either sweeten the pot or wait for a more favorable market to develop. Regardless, the attempt to trade Gabe Vincent and Maxi Kleber is indicative of a front office aware that the current configuration might not be enough—and bold enough to start making the tough calls needed to compete at the highest level.