Opting to leave the Miami Heat left a huge mark both from the personal and basketball viewpoint of Gabe Vincent.
As he recently appeared in J.J. Reddick’s Old Man & the Three podcast, the undrafted guard admitted that he committed to the tough decision of parting ways with the Heat given that the franchise handed him opportunities to grow. But at the end of the day, he clarified that the business side of the game ultimately played a huge factor in his departure.
“I don’t think it was easy,” Vincent said, per Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. “Miami was the team that gave me an opportunity. I grew while there. We had some great runs while I was there, so it wasn’t easy. “I don’t think it’s any secret, I was pretty open about willing to go back, wanting to go back and my love for the organization and I think it was reciprocated. But when it came down to it, business got in the way and there were certain points that the Heat could only get to and other teams were able to get to more. It just kind of made more sense at the end of the day. Business played a role, but also just situations.”
Upon attaining praise and acknowledgment in the past two years as a vital member of the Heat, Vincent hit the free agency market this year as he looked to capitalize on the elevated value that he made for himself.
His outstanding postseason contribution to Miami’s 2023 Cinderella run wherein he averaged 12.7 points and 3.5 assists for 22 total games eventually allowed him to net a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers worth $33MM.
Though it is painful for him to head to the exits of South Beach, Vincent is now looking forward to playing for his hometown team in Lakers.
“It was very difficult,” Vincent. “The relationships that I have with those guys are, to me, lifelong. Even the guys that I played with, to the staff, to the front office. I got to know all of them very well and closely. So it wasn’t an easy decision. It was a huge draw to come back, for sure. But it had to make sense for me and my family. I couldn’t just make a decision.
“But this is no love lost. I got nothing but love for those guys over there. The continuity piece was playing a major role and obviously the taxes play a major role. You think they’ll get close enough and let’s try to make it work. But it’s business for them. And it was kind of tough because they could have done it, but it would have been a big salary cap tax. I understand that from the business side. If I could understand that, I know they understand it well. Maybe things will align down the road. Until then, you got to try to get the Lake Show a ring.”
Besides Vincent, the Heat also lost a significant contributor and major piece to their lineup this offseason upon Max Strus deciding to join the Cleveland Cavaliers in a reported four-year, $63MM sign-and-trade pact.
