According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Rockets are preparing to offer free-agent Dorian Finney-Smith a four-year deal. Stein added that the Los Angeles Lakers knew it would be difficult to keep DFS, as the team prioritizes "long-term financial flexibility."
Finney-Smith declined his $15.4 million player option for 2025-26 to become an unrestricted free agent. Stein was the first to report on Sunday that Houston was LA's top threat to signing DFS (subscription required), a possibility that has become more real with the official start of free agency a few hours away.
Houston is believed to be readying a four-year offer to Dorian Finney-Smith, sources say.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 30, 2025
The Lakers know it will be difficult to retain DFS and maintain desired long-term financial flexibility but entered Monday hoping it was still possible.
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As Stein noted, the Lakers were hopeful that DFS would stay in LA, even after he declined his option. So much for that. The Rockets, who finished as the No. 2 seed in the conference last season, are poised to add Finney-Smith to their roster. Houston recently acquired Kevin Durant via a trade with Phoenix, sending Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green to the Suns. If the Rockets land DFS, it took them no time to replace Green.
Rockets reportedly preparing to offer Dorian Finney-Smith a four-year deal
Losing Finney-Smith will be tough for Lakers fans to accept, for more reasons than one. How will LeBron James view it? He opted into his player option for next season on Sunday, but LeBron is monitoring the moves LA will make this offseason. Rich Paul, LeBron's agent, released a statement, saying that the superstar "values a realistic chance of winning it all." The Lakers valuing financial flexibility isn't what LeBron wants to hear because time is ticking for him to win another title before retiring.
There is also Luka Doncic, who was teammates with DFS in Dallas. He will be eligible to sign an extension starting on August 2, an outcome that seems likely. Mark Walter is the Lakers' new money, and if the Dodgers aren't proof enough, he isn't afraid to spend money, something that Luka and his camp are reportedly in favor of. Shocker!
Even though Finney-Smith leaving LA shouldn't negatively affect Luka's future with the team, it could be one of the dominoes that push LeBron out the door. DFS is the kind of player who can be a key piece for a team in its quest for a championship, something Lakers fans hoped would happen in LA. It seems like it could happen in Houston, instead. Yikes is an understatement.