Dorian Finney-Smith is enjoying his time with the Los Angeles Lakers but that doesn’t necessarily mean he will take a pay cut to stay with them. Finney-Smith can become a free agent this offseason and had an interesting response when asked about his future during an interview with HoopsHype.
“You see what just happened with Luka (Doncic)? So, you’ve got to make sure you take care of yourself first,” Finney-Smith said. “We need to finish the season strong. If we win, everybody eats (smiles).”
After what happened to Luka Doncic, you can’t blame any player for thinking about what’s best for them first and foremost. A team will discard you no matter what you’ve done for them if they feel that would make them better on the court or benefit them financially. So, every player needs to do what’s best for them.
In the case of Finney-Smith, he has a $15.4 million player option for 2025-26 and is expected to decline it to test free agency. This could well be the last big contract that the 31-year-old gets and he’d want to make as much money as possible.
In December 2024, we saw Alex Caruso get a four-year, $81 million extension from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Finney-Smith would probably be looking for a similar deal if not a better one.
You’d think the Lakers would be willing to give Finney-Smith that kind of a contract too. They knew he was likely going to be a free agent in 2025 when they acquired him from the Brooklyn Nets for D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round picks. They wouldn’t have traded for him if they weren’t willing to pay him.
Finney-Smith has certainly earned a big payday with his play for the Lakers too. While his averages of 7.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game aren’t too impressive, he has had a big impact on the court.
Finney-Smith is the kind of 3-and-D wing that the Lakers had desperately needed for years and his arrival has greatly improved the team defensively. He also brings a lot of energy when he is on the court and is exactly the kind of player you’d want next to Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves.
It will be interesting to see what kind of contract Finney-Smith ends up getting this offseason.
Dorian Finney-Smith On Playing For JJ Redick
Finney-Smith was reunited with two former teammates when the Lakers traded him. One was Doncic and the other was head coach JJ Redick. During this interview, the veteran was also asked about what it has been like to play under Redick.
“It’s been good,” Finney-Smith said. “He was my teammate in Dallas for a bit. You could tell he had a great basketball mind. He was a little off. What I mean by a little off is he was super locked in. I feel like all the greats are a little bit off. They care a whole lot and are super passionate about it. He’s one of those guys. It’s been fun competing and playing alongside these amazing players.”
It was clear that Redick has a great basketball mind but that alone isn’t enough to succeed as a head coach. The fact that he had no prior experience before taking the job led to many considering it to be a massive risk but it sure has paid off.
Redick has led the Lakers to a 42-25 record and they are now fourth in the Western Conference. They are currently on a two-game winning streak and will look to extend it when they take on the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday at 10 PM ET.
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