Following the first-round exit in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, the Lakers were anticipating a very active offseason amid contract negotiations, the NBA Draft, and free agency. They had two players who had to decide on their player options for the 2025-26 season this summer: LeBron James and Dorian Finney-Smith. James exercised his player option while Finney-Smith chose to reject it.
While James was anticipated to pick up that player option since the end of their 2025 playoff run, Finney-Smith declining his player option is more surprising considering his close bond with teammate Luka Doncic. Considering that Finney-Smith's market value is approximately in the range of $15-20 million a year, there are various potential landing spots for him.
According to NBA Insiders Jake L Fischer and Marc Stein, the Houston Rockets are in the race to sign Dorian Finney-Smith. Free agency begins on the night of June 30th, when the Lakers can also enter negotiations with him for a potential extension.
"The Houston Rockets have emerged as a viable free agent landing spot for Dorian Finney-Smith, league sources tell @TheSteinLine and me, after the veteran declined his $15.4 million player option for 2025-26 with the Lakers today," wrote Fischer on X.
While Finney-Smith may have rejected his player option, a Lakers return is also possible, according to NBA insider Shams Charania.
"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."
Assessing Dorian Finney-Smith's Fit On The Rockets
Dorian Finney-Smith is a versatile defender and a 3-and-D wing who shot 40.8% from range last season, including his time with the Nets. Since he got traded, he played 43 games for the Lakers in the regular season and averaged 39.8% shots made from deep on 4.8 attempts per game.
The Rockets recently traded away Dillon Brooks in their move for Kevin Durant. He was the best three-point shooter on the Rockets last season, especially among the high-volume shooters like Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green. He shot 39.4% from three-point range, while averaging 6.1 attempts per game. Only Jock Landale and Aaron Holiday had a better percentage than Brooks last season, but they averaged less than five attempts per game.
Therefore, Finney-Smith fit into the role that Dillon Brooks played on the Rockets last season. With Durant, they have already improved their scoring efficiency, but they need defensive wings like Finney-Smith to provide that necessary depth off the bench. He is not expected to get a starter role on the Rockets if he does join the team, but it may be the only genuine title contender in the market for him, a good fit for him as well, in my opinion.
The Rockets could either sign him directly in free agency or offer draft assets and players in a sign-and-trade with the Lakers. It would be more likely in free agency directly, as the Rockets would prefer not to give any assets in order to get Dorian Finney-Smith on the roster.
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