On December 29, 2024, the Los Angeles Lakers executed a pivotal trade, acquiring Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton from the Brooklyn Nets. In return, the Lakers sent Maxwell Lewis, D’Angelo Russell, and three future second-round picks. Significantly, Finney-Smith joined the Lakers after competing in 30 games with the Nets.
Several analysts stepped forward to share their insights and opinions on the recent NBA trades. Recently, Michael Scotto from HoopsHype provided an analysis of Finney-Smith’s player option for the 2025-26 season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
“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.” Scotto wrote in his recent reports.
Lakers debut 🔥
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 1, 2025
Dorian Finney-Smith checks in for the first time in the new threads 🙌 pic.twitter.com/gdP2VxYkee
Scotto believes that Finney-Smith is likely to decline his $15.38 million player option for the 2025-26 NBA season. Instead, he expects Finney-Smith to enter the market as an unrestricted free agent. This decision could create numerous opportunities for Finney-Smith, potentially enabling him to secure a more lucrative contract with a different team or negotiate a better deal with his current franchise.
Dorian Finney-Smith Stats In His Debut Game For The Lakers
The Nets are currently facing a challenging situation in the 2024-25 NBA season. They sit in 12th place in the Eastern Conference standings, with a record of 12 wins and 20 losses. In contrast, the Lakers hold the 7th spot in the conference, boasting 18 wins and 14 losses. Following the trade, Finney-Smith transitioned from striving for a difficult playoff run to aiming for a championship. Furthermore, He recently shared his thoughts on the trade.
Finney-Smith recently made his debut with the Lakers in their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Unfortunately, he had a limited impact on the game, scoring just 2 points, providing 2 assists, and grabbing 2 rebounds in 20 minutes of play. Ultimately, the Lakers lost the game, with a final score of 110-122.
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Welcome to LA, Dorian Finney-Smith 🫡 pic.twitter.com/J7GjH1l33k
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 1, 2025
The Lakers are set to take on the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena. Fans are looking forward to witnessing Finney-Smith’s contributions in the matchup.
Also Read: VIDEO: Los Angeles Lakers HC JJ Redick Confirms The Role Of Latest Addition Dorian Finney-Smith
