The Los Angeles Lakers are in the midst of a season that's testing the resourcefulness of first-year head coach JJ Redick. Los Angeles went through free agency without making a single new addition, traded the lone source of second unit shot creation in December, and continues to have flaws that need to be addressed.
With the tall task of navigating the season with a roster that benefits from continuity but arguably needs external sources of improvement, Redick's first season has been an experience of peaks and valleys.
Despite the hurdles placed in front of it, Los Angeles is in a good place. It's 20-17 through 37 games, on pace to qualify for the Play-In Tournament, and just 0.5 games back of the No. 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.
For as true as that may be, the Lakers have cracks in the armor that are becoming significantly more difficult to overlook with every passing week.
Fortunately, the late-December trade for Dorian Finney-Smith has opened the door for a lineup decision that could alter Los Angeles' trajectory. Unfortunately, the arguably necessary decision could result in negative ramifications off the court.
It would be a risky decision, but if Redick were to start Finney-Smith and bring Rui Hachimura in off the bench, the Lakers could take a significant step forward.
Lakers should start Dorian Finney-Smith over Rui Hachimura
Hachimura has been a revelation for the Lakers in 2024-25, helping to set the tone with his energy and intensity on both ends of the floor. Redick has gone as far as to praise the 26-year-old for doing everything the coaching staff has asked of him since the offseason.
It's far from an indictment of Hachimura to state, however, that the Lakers need something in the starting lineup that may simply not be a part of his game.
Hachimura is a well-rounded player who offers a bit of everything on either end of the court. He's taken steps forward as an offensive rebounder and three-point shooter, can attack closeouts, and is a solid defender who can hold his own against players at multiple positions.
The harsh reality of a lineup that's struggling to find its footing on defense, however, is that it needs a specialist along the wings—and Finney-Smith is a better fit for that role.
Finney-Smith has made a career out of being a 3-and-D specialist whose defensive instincts serve him well against any number of players. He's the closest thing Los Angeles has to a healthy lockdown perimeter defender, which is exactly what makes him a perfect fit.
With Finney-Smith and Max Christie starting, the Lakers would have two players who can alleviate pressure from Anthony Davis and mask the defensive shortcomings of LeBron James and Austin Reaves.
As for Hachimura, his offensive game is versatile enough to make him the ideal player to elevate a dreadful second unit that ranks 29th in points per game. As a reserve, the veteran could operate more as a shot creator and step into a role as a true sixth man.
It's fair to question if this decision would go over well with the locker room after Darvin Ham faced backlash for benching Hachimura in 2023-24, but the arrival of Finney-Smith has changed the dynamic.