Free Agency Profile: Could Gabe Vincent Upgrade Rockets' Reserve Unit?

Gabe Vincent helped the Miami Heat reach the 2022 NBA Finals. But with free agency coming up in a few weeks, should Vincent be a target for the Houston Rockets?

HOUSTON — Kevin Porter Jr. made his message clear ahead of the Houston Rockets' final road trip of the 2022-23 season. 

Porter declared he was the starting point guard for the Rockets. And given the way he embraced the role and has embodied the evolution of the position, Porter should maintain his job as Houston's starting point guard as the franchise enters phase II of its rebuild.

"I’m a point guard for the Houston Rockets," Porter said. "I got traded here to become a point guard, and I’m making that process."

For a team with nearly $60 million of cap space to spend in free agency, it's no surprise why every prominent point guard hitting the market on July 1 has been linked to Houston.

Instead of breaking the bank at a position that's solid due to the emergence of Porter, it may be in the Rockets' best interest to use their cap space to enhance their bench production. But could Miami Heat's point guard Gabe Vincent be a free-agency option for the Rockets?

The Athletic was the first to report Vincent will have a "significant market around the league" as an unrestricted free agent. He is a solid backup point guard who can enhance any team's bench unit. But when an opportunity arises, Vincent could also make for a reliable starter.

Vincent is a defensive-minded guard who can help the Rockets fix their struggles on defense — which will be a significant point of emphasis under new coach Ime Udoka.

Adding Vincent in free agency would give the Rockets a dependable backup to play behind Porter and one who could help Houston's backcourt with scoring and ball-handling obligations.

While finishing with a 22-60 record, Houston's bench unit averaged the fourth-worst overall net rating at -3.4 last season.

He had a stable regular season playing 68 games with 34 starts. But Vincent's free agency stock increased following his performance during the 2023 NBA playoffs. Vincent averaged 12.7 points, 3.5 assists and 0.9 steals while helping the Heat reach the NBA Finals. 

Before falling to the Denver Nuggets in five games, Vincent had his roughest series of the postseason. But his 23-point performance helped the Heat take a Game 2 contest inside Ball Arena to avoid a sweep.

Vincent is in line for a significant payday this summer. But his pay raise will give the Rockets more flexibility to build around their young corps. Per the Miami Herald, Vincent is projected to receive a contract worth between $10-11 million a year.

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You can follow Coty M. Davis on Twitter at @CotyDavis_24

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