The Los Angeles Lakers landed Dorian Finney-Smith in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, however they needed to slip around another Western Conference group to get the offer done.
The Lakers sent out D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and 3 second-round choices (2027, ’30, ’31) in exchange for Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. They were not the only celebration thinking about Finney-Smith.
According to NBA expert Marc Stein, the Lakers stroked in to beat the Memphis Grizzlies’ deal for the veteran forward. Stein declares Memphis’ deal focused around John Konchard and Luke Kennard plus a heavily-protected first-round choice. The Nets chosen LA’s deal of 3 second-rounders.
The Lakers have actually stroked in to leading Memphis’ trade deal for Dorian Finney-Smith … with the Nets selecting 3 second-round choices from L.A. as the prime return for Finney-Smith instead of a greatly secured first-round choice from Memphis. https://t.co/zVkOW21DYO
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 29, 2024
This marks the 2nd time the Lakers have actually traded Russell to the Nets. Back in June of 2017, Russell and Timofey Mozgov were delivered to Brooklyn in exchange for Brook Lopez and the draft rights to Kyle Kuzma.
Russell is balancing 12.4 points, 2.8 rebound sand 4.7 helps in 26.3 minutes per video game and is making $18.7 million in the last year of his agreement. Lewis is a previous second-round choice who is a ball of prospective however has yet to get considerable playing time in the NBA. The 22-year-old has actually just seen action in 41 video games over his two-year profession and has actually balanced 3.2 minutes in those contests.
The Lakers have long pursued Finney-Smith and lastly got their guy on Sunday. The 31-year-old forward is balancing 10.4 points and 4.6 rebounds in 29.0 minutes per video game this season while shooting a career-high 43.5% from three-point variety. He’s making $14.9 million this season and holds a $15.4 million gamer alternative for the 2025-26 project.
Milton is an instant-offense-type shooting guard who is striking 38.9% from three-point variety this season. He’s in the very first season of a three-year, $9.2 million offer that makes him an exceptionally inexpensive rotation piece for Los Angeles.
The Lakers snagged the guy they desired, improved and had the ability to edge out a Western Conference opponent at the same time.
