Image Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

Dorian Finney-Smith Rejects $15.4M Player Option for 2025-26 Season, Set to Enter Free Agency

Dorian Finney-Smith enters free agency!

Image Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Lakers forward Doran Finney-Smith has decided to enter NBA free agency after declining his $15.4M worth player option for the 2025-26 season. As Finney-Smith becomes a free agent, he is likely to be pursued by several teams when the free agent period opened officially on Monday, June 30. He can choose to join other teams or even enter a re-negotiation and return to the Lakers as well.

According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, if Finney-Smith doesn’t return to the team, the Lakers would have more spending power in free agency. They would be able to use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception and the bi-annual exception of $5.1 MM too.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith is declining his $15.4 million player option for the 2025-26 season and will enter free agency, sources tell ESPN. Multiple contending teams are expected to pursue Finney-Smith beginning Monday night and a Lakers return is possible. pic.twitter.com/BlYf5Fzplj
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2025

Notably, the 32-year-old has been a part of the Lakers since his trade from the Brooklyn Nets alongside Shake Milton in exchange for Maxwell Lewis, D’Angelo Russell and three future second-round picks. He has played 43 games for the LeBron James-featuring side and averaged 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game, while starting in 20 of them. Overall, he has played 591 games ever since his debut in the NBA, and maintains an average of 8.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game, with a total of 444 starts.

It is to be noted that no Lakers rotation player has had a better regular season net rating than Finney-Smith’s +11.1 mark in 1,239 minutes. In 1,214 minutes that he didn’t play for them, the Lakers had a -3.5 mark.

Houston Rockets Emerge Frontrunners to Acquire Dorian Finney-Smith

The Houston Rockets, who were kicked out from the NBA Playoffs 2025 following a 4-3 first-round defeat against the Golden State Warriors in the first round, have reportedly shown interest in acquiring Finney-Smith. Notably, the Rockets have recently acquired Kevin Durant in a surprising trade move, and they might want to add the former Laker to their roster.

The Houston Rockets have emerged as a viable free agent landing spot for Dorian Finney-Smith, league sources tell @TheSteinLine and me, after the veteran declined his $15.4 million player option for 2025-26 with the Lakers today.

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— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 29, 2025

According to NBA Insider Jake Fischer, “The Houston Rockets have emerged as a viable free agent landing spot for Dorian Finney-Smith, league sources tell The Stein Line and me, after the veteran declined his $15.4 million player option for 2025-26 with the Lakers today.”

The Portsmouth-born is a veteran who brings experience to the court. He would add value to any locker room he walks in. Finney-Smith’s 0.9 steals per game in the last two seasons speak for the fact that he knows how to guard elite shooters on the perimeter as well. If added to their roster, he would boost depth and defensive options to the Rockets.

Dorian Finney-Smith

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.