When the Los Angeles Lakers made the decision to let Dorian Finney-Smith walk in the summer, they were understandably criticized. The veteran forward was arguably the best three-and-D player on the team, and he was coming off a very solid season, in which he shot almost 40% from three, and played extended minutes in the playoffs. GM Rob Pelinka's decision to let him sign with the Rockets for a four-year, $53 million deal seemed like a money-saving move and signaled that the Lakers may not be too serious about trying to contend in the 2025-26 season.
After this week's injury news out of Houston, however, the Lakers' decision looks much better. The Houston Chronicle's Danielle Lerner reported that Finney-Smith underwent ankle surgery in the offseason and has still not been cleared for contact. Per Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, the former Laker will likely miss the season opener, and how much time he will miss is unclear.
Lakers' Decision to Not Sign Dorian Finney-Smith Looks Great in Hindsight
Finney-Smith is already 32 years old and is a player who plays with a ton of physicality. He consistently guards bigger players, which takes a toll on his body. An age-related decline was already to be expected. Now, with the ankle surgery, Finney-Smith's chances of replicating last season's production seem even less likely.
Plus, the 2025-26 campaign is supposed to be the best year of Finney-Smith's four-year contract. It's hard to expect elite three-and-D play from DFS when he is in his mid-30s. If he misses significant time this season or has to have a reduced workload, the value on that contract significantly diminishes.
Instead of paying Finney-Smith, the Lakers signed Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia. Considering how desperately the Lakers were lacking in depth last season, adding multiple rotation-caliber players makes a ton of sense, even if they come with serious question marks. If Ayton can give consistently high effort, Smart can stay healthier than he has been in the last two years, and LaRavia can build upon his momentum from last season, the Lakers will almost certainly not regret the decision to let Finney-Smith walk.
Finney-Smith is a very good role player. Three-and-D wings who can guard multiple positions are hard to find in the NBA. Yet, knowing when to hold on to your players and when to let go is one of the most important aspects of front office decision-making. Overpaying for your own players when their contract is going to be negative value is where most teams screw themselves. Pelinka has avoided that situation here, and even if Finney-Smith comes back and has a strong season, it was the right decision by the Lakers GM.