When the Los Angeles Lakers opted not to re-sign Dorian Finney-Smith during the offseason, the decision raised eyebrows across the NBA. The veteran forward, widely regarded as one of the league’s premier three-and-D players, was coming off a strong 2024-25 season with the Lakers, where he shot nearly 40% from beyond the arc and played significant minutes in the playoffs. His departure to the Houston Rockets on a four-year, $53 million deal was seen by many as a cost-cutting move by Lakers GM Rob Pelinka, potentially signaling a lack of commitment to contending in the 2025-26 season. Critics argued that letting go of a reliable two-way wing like Finney-Smith was a misstep for a team aiming to compete at the highest level.
However, recent injury news out of Houston has flipped the narrative, casting Pelinka’s decision in a far more favorable light. According to Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle, Finney-Smith underwent ankle surgery during the offseason and has yet to be cleared for contact. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka indicated that the 32-year-old forward is unlikely to be ready for the season opener, with no clear timeline for his return. This development suggests that the Lakers may have narrowly escaped a costly mistake by avoiding a long-term commitment to a player whose immediate and future contributions are now uncertain.
Finney-Smith’s Injury Raises Red Flags
At 32, Finney-Smith’s game relies heavily on his physicality, both offensively and defensively. Known for his ability to guard multiple positions, including bigger players, he has consistently put his body on the line, a style of play that takes a toll over time. Even before the injury, an age-related decline was a realistic concern for Finney-Smith, as most players in their mid-30s struggle to maintain peak performance in such a demanding role. The recent ankle surgery only amplifies these concerns, as it could hinder his mobility and defensive effectiveness—two cornerstones of his value as a three-and-D wing.
The 2025-26 season was expected to be the peak of Finney-Smith’s four-year contract with the Rockets, where his $13.25 million annual salary was seen as reasonable for a player of his caliber. However, if he misses significant time or returns with diminished capacity, the contract’s value could plummet. By the later years of the deal, when Finney-Smith is 34 or 35, the combination of age, wear-and-tear, and injury recovery could render him a shadow of his former self. For the Lakers, who are managing a tight salary cap while trying to build around their core, committing to a potentially declining asset could have been disastrous.
Lakers’ Strategic Pivot Pays Off
Instead of matching Houston’s offer for Finney-Smith, the Lakers used their resources to bolster their roster depth, signing Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia. While each of these players comes with their own risks, the collective addition addresses a critical weakness from last season: a lack of reliable rotation players. Ayton, a former No. 1 overall pick, has the potential to be a dominant force in the paint if he can maintain consistent effort. Smart, a former Defensive Player of the Year, brings tenacity and playmaking, provided he can stay healthy after injury-plagued seasons. LaRavia, a young wing with upside, showed promise last year and could emerge as a valuable contributor.
This multi-player approach contrasts sharply with investing heavily in a single aging veteran like Finney-Smith. The Lakers’ front office recognized that depth is often the difference between a good team and a great one, especially in the grueling Western Conference. By spreading their resources across multiple players, the Lakers have increased their margin for error. Even if one or two of their new additions underperform, the others could still provide meaningful contributions, something a hobbled Finney-Smith might not have guaranteed.
The Art of Letting Go
The NBA is a league where emotional attachments to players can lead to costly mistakes. Teams often overpay to retain their own players, only to watch those contracts become albatrosses as performance declines. Pelinka’s decision to let Finney-Smith walk demonstrates a disciplined approach to roster-building, prioritizing long-term flexibility over short-term familiarity. While Finney-Smith’s skill set—shooting 40% from three and defending multiple positions—is undeniably valuable, the risks tied to his age and now his injury history outweigh the benefits of a four-year commitment.
Even if Finney-Smith returns to form and has a strong season with the Rockets, the Lakers’ choice remains defensible. The NBA’s history is littered with cautionary tales of teams locking themselves into bad contracts for players past their prime. By avoiding this trap, Pelinka has kept the Lakers’ options open, allowing them to pursue other opportunities as they aim to contend in 2025-26 and beyond.
Conclusion
The Lakers’ decision to part ways with Dorian Finney-Smith, once criticized as a penny-pinching move, now looks like a stroke of foresight. With Finney-Smith sidelined by ankle surgery and facing an uncertain recovery, the Lakers have dodged a potential financial and competitive bullet. By opting for depth with the additions of Ayton, Smart, and LaRavia, Los Angeles has positioned itself to weather the challenges of the upcoming season while maintaining flexibility for the future. In a league where every decision carries massive implications, Pelinka’s calculated gamble may prove to be one of the Lakers’ smartest moves this offseason.