Dorian Finney-Smith had a rough time during the 2025-26 NBA season. After dealing with injuries, DFS appeared in just 37 games with the Houston Rockets and struggled throughout the year.
He averaged a career-low 3.3 points, to go along with 2.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. To make things worse, Finney-Smith shot a dismal 33.3% from the field and 27.0% from three-point range.
This, along with wanting to dump his salary, is why the Rockets traded him to the Charlotte Hornets on July 6. Charlotte has already indicated that they will likely waive him, causing rumors to arise that the Los Angeles Lakers may try to sign him.
This idea was shut down by NBA reporter Jovan Buhas in a recent episode of his podcast.
“I think the ship has sailed with DFS and the Lakers organization,” Buhas said. “I think there was some real bad blood last summer, with how the entire situation was handled, in terms of some of the intel that leaked out, and some things with DFS’s health and injury track record.
“I will be pretty surprised if he and his team are willing to look past that.”
The reason why some people think the Lakers may try and go after Finney-Smith is because of his play with LA during the 2024-25 season. With the Lakers, DFS averaged 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, while shooting 44.2% from the field and 39.8% from three.
More importantly, he played solid perimeter defense, which was an area the Lakers were lacking. His play helped LA finish with a 50-32 record.
The Lakers were ultimately defeated in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games. This led to the Lakers’ front office realizing that they needed to reevaluate the roster.
In the offseason that year, Finney-Smith knew what his worth was to the Lakers and decided to decline his $15.4 million player option to become a free agent. Ultimately, he assumed the Lakers would match what he wanted, which was a four-year, $53 million contract.
The Lakers were unwilling to do that. Instead, they offered Finney-Smith a two-year, $25 million contract. This came as a slap in the face to Finney-Smith, who believed the Lakers were lowballing him in contract negotiations.
After the Lakers failed to meet the contract he wanted, Finney-Smith found another team that had no problem with it. The Rockets offered him a four-year, $53 million contract, which he accepted, weakening the Lakers’ perimeter defense.
Of course, this deal is now likely looked at as regrettable by the Rockets. Now, with the possibility of soon becoming a free agent, teams will reach out to Finney-Smith.
The Lakers will probably not be one of them, but if they do, Finney-Smith will likely shut them down. The only reason he may return to the Lakers is to play alongside his former teammate and friend, Luka Doncic.
The Lakers have lost a lot of their core players already this offseason and would surely like to bring Finney-Smith back.
Just don’t count on that happening.
