The Los Angeles Lakers received widespread praise for acquiring Dorian Finney-Smith from the Brooklyn Nets but they might have to loosen the purse strings to keep hold of him. According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Finney-Smith is expected to opt out of his $15.38 million player option for 2025-26 and become a free agent.
“While the Lakers hope to keep Finney-Smith long-term, the early expectation is he will decline his $15.38 million player option for the 2025-26 season and enter unrestricted free agency, HoopsHype has learned. Finney-Smith, a proven 3-and-D forward, is shooting a career-high 43.5 percent from 3-point range this season.”
You’d think the Lakers would have been aware of this before they gave up D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round picks for Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. That’s not a haul you give up for a one-year rental.
Understandably, Finney-Smith is looking for a big payday as he has had a pretty good season so far. The 31-year-old has averaged 10.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game for the Nets and the Lakers in 2024-25. He has shot 42.7% from beyond the arc while also being a force on the defensive end and would get paid handsomely if he hits the market.
On Dec. 22, the Oklahoma City Thunder gave Alex Caruso a four-year, $81 million deal and Finney-Smith would be looking to get a contract along those lines as well. Plenty of teams would be willing to give him that deal too, unless he has a disappointing stint with the Lakers.
Finney-Smith’s Lakers debut was solid but unspectacular. He had two points (1-4 FG), two rebounds, and two assists off the bench as they lost 122-110 to the Cleveland Cavaliers at Crypto.com Arena to drop to 18-14 on the season.
Finney-Smith should start to play better once he gets more accustomed to playing with his new teammates. Here’s what he had to say about his debut in his postgame press conference.
“It was fun, energy was amazing in there,” Finney-Smith said. “… The building was rocking but we didn’t get the win, unfortunately. (They) made some tough shots, we didn’t make enough.”
Finney-Smith also revealed he doesn’t know any of the plays when asked what he wanted to catch up on the most.
“Just the play calls,” Finney-Smith. “I ain’t really know no plays at all. Everybody was talking to me and helping me throughout the game. I was limited on minutes but shoot I just try to have immediate impact, do what coach asked me to do. Be me.
“Be a dog on defense, talk, and bring energy, so that’s all I tried to do,” Finney-Smith added. “I got two open looks but like (Anthony Davis) been telling me, you going to get more of those and just happy I got some clean looks. It’s been a while since I got some clean ones.”
If it wasn’t obvious enough, Finney-Smith is thrilled to go from the rebuilding Nets to the Lakers. He is now on a team that’s hoping to compete for a title and is keen to help them accomplish that goal.
Finney-Smith will be in action next when the Lakers take on the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday at 10:30 PM ET.
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