Toronto Raptors: 4 “bad contracts” worth trading for this offseason

No. 3: Gabe Vincent

The Miami Heat made an improbable run to the NBA Finals last season before falling in five games to the Denver Nuggets. One of the after effects of that run was that the Heat's role players got paid, including significant contracts handed to Max Strus and Gabe Vincent.

Vincent landed with the Los Angeles Lakers as their likely replacement at point guard to D'Angelo Russell once the latter was traded. Instead, Vincent missed most of the season due to injury and Russell stuck around, creating double trouble for the Lakers. They are paying over $30 million combined to Russell and Vincent and it's hard to upgrade at the position when you're already so committed financially.

The Lakers would certainly look to include Vincent in any trade for a perimeter star this summer, but with his injury status uncertain moving forward his contract is likely a negative presence in a trade offer. Finding the Raptors as a facillitating team to send Vincent to could open up the path to adding a star this summer.

For their part, the Raptors need a backup point guard, and they can afford to take it slow and let Vincent get fully healthy and slowly integrate back into a full-time role behind Immanuel Quickley. If he can't get healthy they can stomach the final two seasons of his deal at $22 million. If he does get healthy, suddenly the Raptors have a backup point guard with postseason experience to keep around, or they can flip him to a contending team that needs the help at the position and get value going both ways.