Lakers Preparing For Dorian Finney-Smith To Sign With Lakers

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Los Angeles Lakers are expecting to lose Dorian Finney-Smith in free agency to the Houston Rockets on a multi-year deal. Finney-Smith declined his $15.4 million player option with the Lakers to test free agency. The Lakers acquired Finney-Smith from the Brooklyn Nets in December for D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round draft picks.

The Rockets have their non-taxpayer midlevel exception to offer Finney-Smith, who will help them replace Dillon Brooks. Finney-Smith is comfortable in a role off the bench for the Rockets as their starting five is set with Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun.

Finney-Smith, who is represented by Michael Tellem, averaged 8.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 41.1 percent on three-pointers last season with the Nets and Lakers.

Finney-Smith previously played for the Dallas Mavericks.

Via Dan Woike/The Athletic

[YourGM99]

Over the past 5 years the Lakers have lacked a sense of direction. I think a lot of it is Driven by the last few seasons with Kobe and they probably thought LeBron’s career would end in a similar fashion. They have been hesitant to go all in to win a championship even though they have been 1 or 2 role players away from having the roster to win a championship for the past 3 seasons. They have struggled financially which has resulted in them trading players or losing them in free agency. They have made a bunch of short sighted trades along the way. They have been holding on to draft picks even though they have a terrible draft record recently when drafting in the lottery over the past 10 years. They lucked into getting Lebron because no star wanted to go there. That resulted in them getting AD which resulted in them getting Luka. Maybe things will change but as long as Jeanie and Rob are in the mix I don’t see that happening anytime soon… Their decision on Austin Reaves will be the nail in the coffin because if they extend him anywhere near the max they will be wasting Luka’s prime.

[Vegeta10176]

Over the past 5 years the Lakers have lacked a sense of direction. I think a lot of it is Driven by the last few seasons with Kobe and they probably thought LeBron’s career would end in a similar fashion. They have been hesitant to go all in to win a championship even though they have been 1 or 2 role players away from having the roster to win a championship for the past 3 seasons. They have struggled financially which has resulted in them trading players or losing them in free agency. They have made a bunch of short sighted trades along the way. They have been holding on to draft picks even though they have a terrible draft record recently when drafting in the lottery over the past 10 years. They lucked into getting Lebron because no star wanted to go there. That resulted in them getting AD which resulted in them getting Luka. Maybe things will change but as long as Jeanie and Rob are in the mix I don’t see that happening anytime soon… Their decision on Austin Reaves will be the nail in the coffin because if they extend him anywhere near the max they will be wasting Luka’s prime.

The fact they didn't trade luka a season ago when his value was peak is absolutely crazy.. Also the fact they let AC walk because they didn't want to pay him 10mil a season and instead kept THT also crazy.. They low balled Ty Lue.. They are now letting DFS go to the rockets when he is better player than Ayton or Brook Lopez yes they a centre but they need a good one they should be keeping dfs and trading Rui and their 2031 1st for a good centre then they should be trading Austin for picks and a perimeter gaurd.. The lakers shows are talking like they have years to build around luka like he is 21 not 26.. What's the chances they get a better running mate than Lebron for Luka before Luka is 30? But hey don't go for it now when one guy is a top 4 player and the other guy finished 6th in mvp voting.