The Los Angeles Lakers are 18-13 and the No. 5 seed in the West, proving the team can be competitive enough to stay in the Playoffs but might need more to be actual contenders. They’re bolstering their roster in the trade market, acquiring Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton from the Brooklyn Nets to alter the makeup of the team.
Despite the high-profile move, Finney-Smith will be a bench piece for the Lakers, with JJ Redick confirming that he intends to stick with their current starting lineup.
“I already talked to him about it. We’re in a good spot with our starting group right now. He’ll play, he’ll come off the bench. I’ve told you guys several times that I want consistency with that group (current starters) but I’m not going to be stubborn and stick with something that’s not working, but it’s working right now, and it doesn’t matter to him if he’s starting or coming off the bench.”
Redick also elaborated on what Finney-Smith will bring to the Lakers.
“Dorian gives us another defender. He’s a guy who has guarded multiple positions throughout his career. He’s worked to become an elite spot-up catch-and-shoot three-point shooter, so I’m excited to have him.”
Coach JJ Redick on what Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton bring to the Lakers.
— LAKERFANATICS (@LAKERFANATICS) December 31, 2024
The starting five with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Max Christie has looked competitive in December, with them having a 5-1 record together. Christie’s inclusion as a POA defense option has helped the team with him being a more potent offensive threat than Cam Reddish.
Finney-Smith is a versatile 3-and-D forward who has been a starter for the last five years for the Dallas Mavericks and Brooklyn Nets. Readjusting to a bench role might be a challenge, but the Lakers genuinely don’t have a forward behind LeBron and Hachimura, with Jarred Vanderbilt yet to play this season and other options all being swingmen asked to play out of position.
We wrote about the ideal Lakers starting five with Finney-Smith’s inclusion yesterday, suggesting that LeBron James complete transitioning to point guard and play alongside both Hachimura and Finney-Smith, with Austin Reaves and Anthony Davis as the other starters. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the Lakers will make that radical move right now.
Dorian is averaging 10.4 points and 4.6 rebounds this season and will have a legitimate opportunity at cracking the starting lineup if he plays well. The best way to use him would be alongside LeBron instead of a backup, as Finney-Smith excels at corner shooting and James excels at finding open shooters in the corner.
JJ Redick Is A Fan Of Dorian Finney-Smith
JJ Redick and Dorian Finney-Smith are former teammates, with Redick retiring after half a season with the Dallas Mavericks in 2020-21 when Dorian was a starter for the franchise.
The Lakers head coach has previously expressed he’s a fan of Finney-Smith during his days as a podcaster.
“The one guy I have to shout out because I love watching him play and he does so many things that don’t show up in the box score – that’s Dorian Finney-Smith. DoeDoe is an awesome player who can fit on any team in the NBA, I think he’s incredibly valuable, a great defender, hustles, and makes all the right plays.”
Redick will hope he can maximize Finney-Smith’s skill set and help the Lakers climb further up the standings to contend for a title as the franchise is still looking at options to further improve the squad.
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