The Lakers offseason might have just gotten a little more complicated.
Dorian Finney-Smith will reportedly opt out of his contract to become a free agent, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. With no new deal having been agreed upon yet, for now, Finney-Smith is set to become a free agent.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith is declining his $15.4 million player option for the 2025-26 season and will enter free agency, sources tell ESPN. Multiple contending teams are expected to pursue Finney-Smith beginning Monday night and a Lakers return is possible. pic.twitter.com/BlYf5Fzplj
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2025
Declining his option was always the likeliest outcome as it allows DFS to secure more money long term. If Finney-Smith does leave, it would open up the full mid-level exception for the Lakers. However, that would hard cap them at the first apron.
It’s also entirely possible that the Lakers and Finney-Smith still agree to a deal. But he’ll be a sought-after free agent, as was recently reported.
The Lakers traded for Finney-Smith back in December, and the 3-and-D wing had a productive season in Los Angeles, playing in 43 games and starting in 20 of them. DFS averaged 7.9 points and shot 39% from 3-point range as a Laker.
He became an integral piece of the roster for the Lakers. After quickly earning the trust of head coach JJ Redick, Finney-Smith eventually became part of the team’s version of a death lineup after they acquired Luka Dončić.
His role only increased as the importance of the games grew. He played the entire second half of the team’s Game 4 loss against the Wolves, then started in Game 5.
Finney-Smith said he hadn’t thought of his player option during his exit interview, but now, he’s clearly made a decision.
Back in December, Michael Scott of Hoops Hype reported that DFS would opt out and test the free agency market, and it turns out that’s exactly what he is doing.
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