It was only about six months ago that the Los Angeles Lakers acquired forward Dorian Finney-Smith via trade, but according to a report, they’re already preparing to lose him.
Finney-Smith is an unrestricted free agent this offseason after he opted out of his deal, and the Lakers are said to be “bracing” for him to sign with the Houston Rockets on a multi-year contract.
“The Lakers are bracing to lose forward Dorian Finney-Smith in free agency to a multi-year deal with the Houston Rockets, according to team sources,” wrote The Athletic’s Dan Woike.
“The loss of a valuable wing like Finney-Smith — and a beloved teammate of [Luka] Dončić — will create a void on the perimeter, but his exit will open up a pathway for the Lakers to be aggressive targeting the top available centers in the free agency.”
It was reported last week that Finney-Smith could explore options beyond the Lakers for a multiyear deal if needed, and it appears that he is indeed on track to land a contract elsewhere.
In late December, the Lakers acquired Finney-Smith and guard Shake Milton from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for guard D’Angelo Russell, forward Maxwell Lewis and three second-round picks.
It’s unfortunate that Los Angeles may be on the verge of losing a player that it sacrificed some assets for, but if his exit does allow the Lakers to be more aggressive as they search for a center, fans may be willing to take that exchange.
After being traded to the Lakers, Finney-Smith averaged 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game in the regular season while shooting 44.2 percent from the field and 39.8 percent from deep. He also appeared in five playoff games for the Purple and Gold, but the team was eliminated in the first round.
L.A.’s frontcourt woes were a major reason why the team took an early playoff exit, so the Lakers know how important it is to address that area this offseason.
That may be the biggest thing standing between them and a championship-caliber roster, and with the future of Lakers star LeBron James possibly dependent on whether the team can build a contender, there’s certainly a lot on the line for L.A. this summer.
Losing Finney-Smith would hurt, but with so many moving parts right now, it will be hard to judge the Lakers’ approach until their roster for the 2025-26 season comes into focus a little bit more.