Lakers Acquire Dorian Finney-Smith From Nets For D'Angelo Russell, Three 2nd Round Picks

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton from the Brooklyn Nets for D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second round picks.

Finney-Smith has been on the trade block for several weeks as the Nets rebuild. 

Via Shams Charania/The Athletic

[dubbmotta]

As a Laker fan, I’m not sure how this makes us better or move the needle..someone help me out on this, thanks.

[RipCityKJ]

As a Laker fan, I’m not sure how this makes us better or move the needle..someone help me out on this, thanks.

It’s about as even as a trade you get, you lose offensive value but gain defensive value. I don’t see this doing much of anything for them.

[NoStatsGuy]

not all trades are made to make the team better. this is a business move, that saves 11 million dollars. thats pretty much it.

i have heared people talk about the buss family not doing so hot on the financial side. i have no clue, just what i overheared.

[Anthoine]

not all trades are made to make the team better. this is a business move, that saves 11 million dollars. thats pretty much it.

i have heared people talk about the buss family not doing so hot on the financial side. i have no clue, just what i overheared.

I honestly think this trade just happens to work both ways, Dorian should bring much needed Def and consistency in the role he plays for the lakers. Shake just the same. I’m not a big lakers fan but this does seem like a trade that works to their current need $ wise and player.

[lonzo_pelota]

this helps the Lakers as LeBron is a defensive liability and you need to surround him with competent shooters and defenders to have any chance at success, D'Angelo is a competent offensive player when motivated but is a parking cone on defense. Austin Reaves has made D'Angelo expendable as he's having a lackluster season in JJ Reddick's system as opposed to last year. Dorian should thrive on defense and he's a high energy player anytime he's on the court, plus he wants to secure a big bag this offseason if he declines his player option. Just my thoughts. Plus we get to limbo under the salary cap apron once again, sure I have loved to have Cam Johnson instead but we didn't have the assets or cap space to make that happen in the grand scheme.

[xchange55]

this helps the Lakers as LeBron is a defensive liability and you need to surround him with competent shooters and defenders to have any chance at success, D'Angelo ... is a parking cone on defense.

It doesn't really matter who you put out there for the Lakers - it's always 5 on 4 on the defensive end with parking cone Lebron out there. DFS can't guard 2 players.

[lonzo_pelota]

this helps the Lakers as LeBron is a defensive liability and you need to surround him with competent shooters and defenders to have any chance at success, D'Angelo ... is a parking cone on defense.

It doesn't really matter who you put out there for the Lakers - it's always 5 on 4 on the defensive end with parking cone Lebron out there. DFS can't guard 2 players.

it does matter to a certain extent because when LeBron is motivated and gives some semblance of effort we win games against strong opponents imo, plus these are decent additions to a team that will have to continue when Billionaire Bron decides to ride off into the sunset and purchase that Vegas franchise

[Pickled Prunes]

this helps the Lakers as LeBron is a defensive liability and you need to surround him with competent shooters and defenders to have any chance at success, D'Angelo ... is a parking cone on defense.

It doesn't really matter who you put out there for the Lakers - it's always 5 on 4 on the defensive end with parking cone Lebron out there. DFS can't guard 2 players.

it does matter to a certain extent because when LeBron is motivated and gives some semblance of effort we win games against strong opponents imo, plus these are decent additions to a team that will have to continue when Billionaire Bron decides to ride off into the sunset and purchase that Vegas franchise

Lebron has checked out... if this move gets him to check back in, than it matters. It just might not matter enough to matter.

[writersblock]

As a Laker fan, I’m not sure how this makes us better or move the needle..someone help me out on this, thanks.

"ditto" to what everyone else said. I'll add this:
2 solid role players for 1 who became just a role player rather than the star they needed him to be.
At this point, the Lakers are just biding their time until LeBron retires, and adding guys like this as role players set up a good foundation whenever they go for their post-lebron star to pair with AD. Here's hoping the Lakers don't have to trade everyone on their roster like they did with AD.

[Luv those Knicks]

As a Laker fan, I’m not sure how this makes us better or move the needle..someone help me out on this, thanks.

I wonder how much of this move was salary motivated.

[Rek]

As a Laker fan, I’m not sure how this makes us better or move the needle..someone help me out on this, thanks.

It’s about as even as a trade you get, you lose offensive value but gain defensive value. I don’t see this doing much of anything for them.

This will only move the needle if this is the first of 2 or 3 overall trades.

Given Rob's history, I'm not holding my breath.

[tigerae]

As a Laker fan, I’m not sure how this makes us better or move the needle..someone help me out on this, thanks.

It’s about as even as a trade you get, you lose offensive value but gain defensive value. I don’t see this doing much of anything for them.

This will only move the needle if this is the first of 2 or 3 overall trades.

Given Rob's history, I'm not holding my breath.

Exactly this. Unless they have another trade or two to get rid of some of their other swing players for a point guard and a starting center they are basically the same.

[Pickled Prunes]

It’s about as even as a trade you get, you lose offensive value but gain defensive value. I don’t see this doing much of anything for them.

This will only move the needle if this is the first of 2 or 3 overall trades.

Given Rob's history, I'm not holding my breath.

Exactly this. Unless they have another trade or two to get rid of some of their other swing players for a point guard and a starting center they are basically the same.

Lebron is their starting PG. AD is their starting center. Lebron is too slow to guard SF's and AD is more effective in the paint than on the perimeter. They definately don't need another starter that will get cooked on the perimeter. They need players that can guard PG's, but when the games start to matter Lebron will want the ball in his hands.

That doesn't mean that LAL won't go get a starting PG and a starting center. I am sure that is what AD and Lebron are asking for. We've seen how it works when they get what they want.

[Vegeta10176]

This will only move the needle if this is the first of 2 or 3 overall trades.

Given Rob's history, I'm not holding my breath.

Exactly this. Unless they have another trade or two to get rid of some of their other swing players for a point guard and a starting center they are basically the same.

Lebron is their starting PG. AD is their starting center. Lebron is too slow to guard SF's and AD is more effective in the paint than on the perimeter. They definately don't need another starter that will get cooked on the perimeter. They need players that can guard PG's, but when the games start to matter Lebron will want the ball in his hands.

That doesn't mean that LAL won't go get a starting PG and a starting center. I am sure that is what AD and Lebron are asking for. We've seen how it works when they get what they want.

Agree these guys do not know what they are talking about also Austin slips into PG as well the lakers really need a 2 gaurd who can defend and shoot.. Dlo hasn't even been this season either dfs is a much better fit.. They are right on one point though they need another trade at least to move into being a real contender they are just wrong on the positions of need.

[Vegeta10176]

not all trades are made to make the team better. this is a business move, that saves 11 million dollars. thats pretty much it.

i have heared people talk about the buss family not doing so hot on the financial side. i have no clue, just what i overheared.

Lol the team is better.. Dlo was not even playing well this year and sucks as a defender.. Also in the playoffs dlo has literally been unplayable.. DFS is clearly an upgrade in a position of need.. He can defend and shoot the exact player they need.

[Vegeta10176]

As a Laker fan, I’m not sure how this makes us better or move the needle..someone help me out on this, thanks.

Lakers need 3 and D players.. they just swapped out dlo who can't defend a witches hate for a guy who can shoot 3s and play strong defence.. dlo was also having a bad year this is a pretty big upgrade just based on that. They need a 2 who can gaurd on the perimeter and shoot 3s as well to play on the court with reeves.. one more good trade could push them into a chance to contend.

[Hans1984]

I don't see how this improves the Lakers even one bit

[Vegeta10176]

I don't see how this improves the Lakers even one bit

Well dlo was not even good this season and dfs is a good defender and shooting 3s at a good rate.. So the fact you can't see it means you probably don't know anything about basketball..

[Pickled Prunes]

Exactly this. Unless they have another trade or two to get rid of some of their other swing players for a point guard and a starting center they are basically the same.

Lebron is their starting PG. AD is their starting center. Lebron is too slow to guard SF's and AD is more effective in the paint than on the perimeter. They definately don't need another starter that will get cooked on the perimeter. They need players that can guard PG's, but when the games start to matter Lebron will want the ball in his hands.

That doesn't mean that LAL won't go get a starting PG and a starting center. I am sure that is what AD and Lebron are asking for. We've seen how it works when they get what they want.

Agree these guys do not know what they are talking about also Austin slips into PG as well the lakers really need a 2 gaurd who can defend and shoot.. Dlo hasn't even been this season either dfs is a much better fit.. They are right on one point though they need another trade at least to move into being a real contender they are just wrong on the positions of need.

Yep, 3&D. Some play making ability would be nice, but no one that needs the ball or will expect the ball late in game.