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The LA Lakers have Wenyen Gabriel under contract for the 2022-23 season, but what are the details? The 6' 9" power forward is in his fourth season out of the University of Kentucky. Gabriel signed a two-year deal with the Lakers in April with a team option for this season.
Wenyen Gabriel appeared in 19 games for the Lakers last season and has already exceeded that total this year. The bulk of his salary hit this season. When he signed his contract in April, there were only a few games left in the season, so his salary for the 2021-22 season was just $29,814. His salary for this season is $1.9 million and becomes fully guaranteed on 01/10/23.
Gabriel has been getting a chance to play, appearing in 23 of the Lakers' 32 games this season. He's averaging 14.2 minutes and scoring 5.5 points along with registering 3.9 rebounds per game. The team will use that to see if he's a roster fit or is generating any trade interest from another team that could use a power forward.
In Wenyen Gabriel’s last outing against the Charlotte Hornets, the young forward provided 13 points and seven rebounds in an efficient 16 minutes in a 134-130 loss.
Because of his low cap numbers, his deal may prove to be a value for a roster that doesn’t have a lot of cap space. If he finds a way to stay on the floor and continue to contribute, Gabriel may put himself in position to sign a big deal somewhere else next season.
Does Wenyen Gabriel fit into LA Lakers plans?
The LA Lakers have underperformed this season, with a 13-19 record. This is an organization that'd intended on competing for the championship. The team does not have many trade assets, and they're in the luxury tax as far as the salary cap. The bulk of that cap money is assigned to three players.
A player like Wenyen Gabriel is interesting, as his deal that pays him $1.9 million this season is a steal. If they choose not to re-sign him next year along with a few players on how heavy a cap hits, the team will be able to pursue high-profile free agents. Alternatively, they could keep and try to re-sign Gabriel to a slightly higher deal in the offseason that won’t break the bank.
The team could also cut the forward before January, as his contract won't be fully guaranteed till then. It will be interesting to see the Lakers moves in this regard.
Guess the Lakers players!
