As expected, Los Angeles Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith is officially testing the open market. ESPN’s Shams Charania confirmed Sunday that Finney-Smith has declined his $15.4 million player option for the 2025–26 season and will become an unrestricted free agent.
Despite the move, sources indicate that a return to the Lakers remains on the table, though it may come at a premium price.
Finney-Smith, 32, is entering free agency with one goal in mind: securing a lucrative, multi-year deal. He has made it clear he’s not willing to take a pay cut, even for the chance to run it back with LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and the Lakers.
While declining the option means Finney-Smith is no longer eligible for a $96.5 million extension, league insiders believe he can still secure a deal in the $90.2 million range, a sizeable payday for one of the NBA’s most reliable 3-and-D wings.
Though his raw stats don’t jump off the page — 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game last season, Finney-Smith’s impact goes well beyond the box score. His combination of elite defense, positional versatility, and timely three-point shooting has turned him into one of the league’s most coveted role players.
In a league obsessed with switchability and floor spacing, Finney-Smith checks all the boxes.
For the Lakers, his decision couldn’t come at a more critical time. With LeBron James opting into his $52.6 million deal and the team still searching for a starting-caliber center, the front office has little margin for error.
Losing Finney-Smith would leave another gaping hole on a roster that already struggled with perimeter defense and floor balance during their early playoff exit to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Multiple contending teams are expected to pursue Finney-Smith when free agency opens Monday night, but the Lakers, however, remain in the mix, and the decision may ultimately hinge on whether they’re willing to meet his terms.
NBA insider Zach Lowe hinted on his podcast that the Lakers may have no choice. The Lakers already have a hole at the center. Letting Dorian walk would open another, and that’s a disaster waiting to happen.
Finney-Smith, known for his professionalism and no-nonsense approach, has kept things quiet publicly, but has hinted say he’s appreciative of his time in L.A. and would consider staying if the financial terms are right.
Now, all eyes turn to Rob Pelinka and the Lakers’ front office. With the clock ticking and the roster in transition, retaining Finney-Smith may not just be a matter of preference, it might be essential to staying competitive in a Western Conference arms race.
One thing is certain: Finney-Smith is about to get paid. The only question is whether the check will come stamped with Lakers gold.
