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The Los Angeles Lakers finally pulled the trigger on a D’Angelo Russell trade, sending him to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith before the calendar flipped to 2025. Finney-Smith has long been coveted around the league for being a solid 3-and-D wing who could fit in any lineup, and the Lakers will be relying on him to provide some toughness, floor-spacing, and rebounding even if he’s still in a bench role as of the moment.
Finney-Smith has had plenty of battles against LeBron James in the past, as he’s been tasked across every stop of his to contain the team’s best perimeter player. And on the Lakers, that title undisputedly belongs to James. But now that they’re teammates, Finney-Smith can breathe a little easier, as he can simply watch James in all of his greatness while being secure in the fact that they’re now on the same side.
“Having fun seeing LeBron shoot the ball off one leg and s**t. It’s fun to be here to see it and not have to guard it,” Finney-Smith said on Sunday night, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
But beyond the fun that is playing with James, Finney-Smith is expected to play a huge role for the Lakers in the looming stretch run. Even though LA lost on Sunday in heartbreaking fashion to the Houston Rockets, 119-115, the 31-year-old forward knocked down some huge shots, finishing with 13 points on the night.
Finney-Smith could be in line for a bigger role for the team moving forward depending on matchups. But the Lakers appear to be content in bringing him along a bit slowly.
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