As the Los Angeles Lakers embark on a journey to add new talent at center, they must not overlook the importance of retaining one of their most important players: Dorian Finney-Smith. Finney-Smith has declined his player option for the 2025-26 season, and a competitive market now awaits him in free agency.
One of the teams that's reportedly eyeing Finney-Smith as an ideal free agency signing should have the Lakers fearing that he's played his last game in Los Angeles: The Houston Rockets.
Finney-Smith, 32, is widely regarded as one of the best 3-and-D forwards in the NBA. He has a longstanding history of providing a positive impact on winning, whether that be with contending-level rosters or those that otherwise lack ideal pieces.
According to Michael Scott of HoopsHype, that has the 52-win Rockets looking at Finney-Smith as an ideal offseason acquisition.
"Houston will pursue Los Angeles Lakers free-agent forward Dorian Finney-Smith, league sources told HoopsHype."
The Lakers have strong odds of re-signing Finney-Smith, but the Rockets are one of the few teams that could realistically steal one of Los Angeles' most important players away from them.
Rockets could be more appealing to Dorian Finney-Smith than Lakers
The Lakers are an undoubtedly appealing option for Finney-Smith to consider. They won 50 games despite undergoing massive roster changes and enduring a trade falling through due to a failed physical. They're also led by one of his friends and long-time teammates in Luka Doncic.
What the Rockets have to offer, however, is a clear a upward trajectory that implies sustained excellence beyond the appeal of the top-tier talent on the roster.
Houston is a defensive-minded team with promising young players at every position and a superstar scorer in Kevin Durant. Finney-Smith would thus fit seamlessly with Ime Udoka's group, as he thrives as a defender and is a more than capable shooter, as well.
Considering the Rockets ranked No. 21 in three-point field goal percentage in 2024-25, it's easy to understand why they'd want to bring in a defensive-minded player who can shoot efficiently.
The primary reason to believe the Lakers are still a viable option, however, is that they may be willing and able to offer Finney-Smith a more prominent role. In Houston, Durant, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., and Amen Thompson will all consume considerable minutes at forward in 2025-26.
In Los Angeles, however, Finney-Smith already knows that he'll have a steady role after averaging 28.8 minutes per game in the purple and gold in 2024-25.
Unfortunately, even that comes with something of a caveat. The Lakers struggled to generate looks for players who weren't starters in 2024-25, and a three-headed playmaking monster of Doncic, James, and Austin Reaves is likely to continue to dominate touches. Houston, meanwhile, runs a more free-flowing offense that's predicated on attacking from any possible angle.
After the Lakers outscored opponents by a team-best 11.1 points per 100 possessions with Finney-Smith on the court last season, however, they must find a way to appeal to him in free agency and prevent this nightmare from taking hold.