Report: Dorian Finney-Smith could ‘look elsewhere’ depending on how contract situation unfolds

The Los Angeles Lakers acquired forward Dorian Finney-Smith via trade partway through the 2024-25 season, and he proved to be a valuable complementary piece next to L.A.’s stars. Finney-Smith converted 39.8 percent of his 3-point tries on 4.8 attempts per game across 43 regular-season contests with Los Angeles.

His future with the storied franchise may be up in the air soon, though, depending on how his contract situation plays out. Finney-Smith has a player option for the 2025-26 campaign that would pay him $15.4 million should he opt in, but if his only option to remain a Laker is to opt into his deal, he could “look elsewhere,” according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

“Forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who underwent surgery on his left ankle after the season, has until Sunday to opt out of the final year of his contract, worth $15.4 million for next season,” McMenamin wrote. “He is extension-eligible before free agency begins Monday.

“Up until Saturday, the Lakers can offer Finney-Smith a three-year extension worth $54 million, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks. From Between Sunday and Monday, L.A. can offer him a four-year extension worth $90.2 million — with his player option being replaced with a new salary.

“If Finney-Smith opted in for $15.4 million for next season, he’d be eligible to sign a four-year deal worth $96.5 million, assuming he signs after July 6 when the free agent moratorium is lifted. A source familiar with the talks told ESPN that while Finney-Smith has interest in returning to L.A., he could look elsewhere for a multiyear deal if the only way to stay with the Lakers is to opt into his deal.”

The Lakers acquired Finney-Smith as part of the trade that sent guard D’Angelo Russell, forward Maxwell Lewis and a trio of second-round draft picks to the Brooklyn Nets. Finney-Smith was easily the crown jewel of the trade from Los Angeles’ perspective, but he could depart the Lakers without having even played a full season with the team.

Even if Finney-Smith signs elsewhere this summer, though, the Lakers still seemingly made the right decision in taking a flier on him and moving on from Russell, who did not play effective or efficient basketball to kick off his second stint in a Nets uniform after being dealt.

Russell averaged 12.9 points per contest on just 36.7 percent shooting from the field and 29.7 percent from 3-point range in 29 games as a Net in the latter portion of the regular season.

The Lakers did also just bring in a haul of players via the draft and UDFA deals, so there may be someone within that group capable of stepping up if L.A. does lose Finney-Smith.

But that likely isn’t the outcome the Lakers are hoping for, as the 32-year-old is an experienced and valuable contributor who figures to be an important piece of the puzzle for L.A. if he returns. His future will obviously be a key storyline to monitor.