NBA rumors: The ex-Heat, Lakers veteran who turned down Knicks opportunity

The New York Knicks are set to begin the upcoming NBA season as champions, following their victory over the San Antonio Spurs in last year's Finals. This success should typically motivate players to pursue opportunities with the team. However, this does not seem to be the case for former Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Vincent was offered a chance to join the Knicks in the current offseason but instead chose to wait for a more certain opportunity. Vincent began the 2024-25 season with the Lakers, a franchise he joined after spending his initial four seasons with the Heat. He was later traded to Atlanta for Luke Kennard and a future second-round draft pick, with the Hawks also sending a pick.

Vincent ended up playing primarily on the bench for Atlanta, making seven starts and averaging 3.9 points, 1.6 assists, and 1.1 rebounds per game in 24 appearances. The 29-year-old remains an unrestricted free agent after his three-year deal with the Lakers expired. While many seasoned players would welcome the chance to join a loaded team like the Knicks, Vincent is reportedly seeking a better opportunity. At 30 years old, Vincent believes he still has several valuable seasons ahead of him in the NBA.