Lakers acquire Dorian Finney-Smith from Nets

Lakers acquire Dorian Finney-Smith from Nets

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired forward Dorian Finney-Smith–plus guard Shake Milton–from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second-round picks, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania first reported Sunday morning.

BREAKING: The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed on a trade sending D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton, sources told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/V175zGtmKW

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 29, 2024

According to Charania, the Lakers’ second-round picks sent are for the years 2027, 2030 and 2031. The Miami Heat own their 2026 second-rounder while the Washington Wizards own their 2029 second.

The Lakers are sending their own second-round picks in 2027, 2030 and 2031 to the Nets, sources said. https://t.co/HVMvSp9N4K

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 29, 2024

There was reportedly “active discussions” Saturday between the Grizzlies and Nets for Finney-Smith, according to NBA insider Marc Stein and Nets Daily. But according to Stein, the Lakers swooped in at the last moment, as the Nets preferred the Lakers’ second-round picks to a protected Grizzlies’ first-round pick.

The Lakers have swooped in to top Memphis’ trade offer for Dorian Finney-Smith … with the Nets choosing three second-round picks from L.A. as the prime return for Finney-Smith rather than a heavily protected first-round pick from Memphis. https://t.co/zVkOW21DYO

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 29, 2024

Finney-Smith, 31, is having the best shooting season of his career. He’s currently averaging 10.4 points on a career-best 43.5 percent from 3-point range, four percentage points greater than his previous career high and nearly eight points greater than his career average.

He was expected to be one of the league’s more coveted 3-and-D wings ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline. He is on the books for $14.9 million this season with a $15.4 million player option for next season.

As a result of moving off Russell and Lewis, the Lakers move roughly $3.5 million away from the second apron. Plus, they did so while keeping all of their first-round picks (two tradeable FRP outright), just in case.

As for the Nets, they receive an expiring contract in Russell plus draft assets. They are now projected to have $65 million in cap space entering next summer, assuming no other moves are made, according to HoopsHype capologist Yossi Gozlan.

The Brooklyn Nets now project with $65 million in 2025 cap space while being able to re-sign Cam Thomas.

They were projected with $50 million in space if they kept Dorian Finney-Smith and he opted in.

— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) December 29, 2024

Other players they could potentially look to move off of are Cam Johnson, Ben Simmons and Bojan Bogdanovic, who has yet to play this season due to a foot injury. What should be the next move for Brooklyn?

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This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned for updates.

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