<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/houston-rockets/grading-dorian-finney-smith-rockets-contract-2025-nba-free-agency');   ga('set', 'title', 'Grading Dorian Finney-Smith’s $53 million Rockets contract in 2025 NBA free agency');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Grading-Dorian-Finney-Smiths-53-million-Rockets-contract-in-2025-NBA-free-agency.jpg"></figure><h1>Grading Dorian Finney-Smith’s $53 million Rockets contract in 2025 NBA free agency</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-30T20:27:44-07:00">June 30th, 8:27pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-30T20:27:44-07:00">June 30th, 8:27pm</time><address><a href="http://hoopnut.blogspot.com/">Enzo Flojo</a>Enzo Flojo is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints and a columnist for Asian basketball at FIBA. He brings a dynamic spirit and background, having expertise that spans writing, analytics, coaching, and broadcasting. He is also currently an Assistant Coach on Scouting &amp; Analytics for the Philippine national youth basketball team.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Rockets aren’t just signaling that they’re all-in. They’re acting like it. Mere days after pulling off the most shocking trade of the summer by acquiring Kevin Durant from Phoenix, the Rockets are staying on the offensive. Their latest move? Signing veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith to a four-year, $53 million deal in 2025 NBA free agency. For a franchise just two years removed from the lottery wilderness, this isn’t just a depth signing. It’s a signal to the rest of the West that Houston has no intention of slowing down.</p><p>Finney-Smith, of course, is one of the premier 3-and-D wings available this summer. He now joins a suddenly loaded Rockets roster that boasts both elite talent and enviable versatility. Houston’s rise has been fast, aggressive, and largely unexpected. Adding a player of Finney-Smith’s caliber only bolsters what is shaping up to be the deepest and most complete rotation in the conference. And given the price tag and fit, this deal deserves serious praise.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Dorian-Finney-Smith-shades-Lakers-with-X-million-Rockets-free-agency-contract.jpg"></figure><h2><b>A Season That Rewrote Expectations</b></h2><p>No one expected <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/hou">the Rockets to finish 52–30</a> and grab the West’s No. 2 seed. The previous year’s 41-win progress hinted at growth. However, this leap was driven by elite defense, breakneck transition play, and gritty depth. The Rockets then surpassed all projections.</p><p>Cam Whitmore and rookie Reed Sheppard didn’t break out, but almost everything else clicked. Houston’s rise made them the envy of nearly every team.</p><p>Still, doubts lingered heading into their first playoff run. The Rockets struggled in the half court. They ranked bottom 10 in efficiency, and it showed in their first-round exit. Once transition lanes closed, shot creation and spacing dried up. Perhaps leaning harder on the Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams duo to dominate the glass might’ve been the better bet.</p><p>Still, you could make the argument Houston has already won the offseason. In a period of two weeks, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/rockets-news-kevin-durant-breaks-silence-trade-teasing-fans">the Rockets traded for Durant</a> and agreed to new contracts for Adams, Fred VanVleet, Aaron Holiday, Jae’Sean Tate, Jabari Smith Jr, and Jeff Green. They also signed coach Ime Udoka to an extension. The Durant trade, not to mention adding Clint Capela, was significant not just because the team acquired a top-10 player. It was also because the team’s depth <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/rockets-news-houston-re-signs-2-veteran-reserves-after-kevin-durant-trade">was kept largely intact</a>.</p><p>And now, in free agency, they’ve struck again.</p><p>Here we will hand out our grade for Dorian Finney-Smith’s $53 million Rockets contract in 2025 NBA free agency.</p><h2><b>Finney-Smith’s Fit: Seamless on Both Ends</b></h2><p>Free agent forward Dorian Finney-Smith has agreed to a four-year, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/rockets-news-dorian-finney-smith-shades-lakers-53-million-free-agency-contract">$53 million deal with the Rockets</a>, sources tell ESPN. Finney-Smith’s agent, Michael Tellem of Excel Sports, negotiated terms of the deal tonight with Rockets executives for the 3-and-D wing.</p><p>This is a move that makes immediate sense and fits a clear need. Finney-Smith averaged 8.7 points and 2.0 threes last season while shooting 41.1 percent from deep for the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers. More importantly, his teams were +8.6 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor. They were -4.8 when he was off. That’s not noise. It’s real impact.</p><p>Having him flank primary actions run by Durant, VanVleet or Sengun will make the offense more dangerous. He should help space the floor and punishing help defenders who shade toward stars. That’s not even where he brings the most value.</p><p>Defensively, Finney-Smith is a coach’s dream. He can guard up or down, hound wings, fight through screens, and help on the boards. His ability to switch and recover is tailor-made for Ime Udoka’s defensive schemes. On a team that already boasts strong a perimeter stopper in Tate, adding another elite wing defender feels unfair.</p><h2><b>Team-Friendly and Future-Proof</b></h2><p>The contract itself is more than reasonable. At just over $13 million per year, Houston is paying mid-level money for a player who regularly plays starter minutes on winning teams and contributes on both ends. In today’s cap environment, that’s a win.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Dorian-Finney-Smith-2.jpg"><figcaption>Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Finney-Smith is 31, which means he’ll be 35 when the deal ends. However, his game doesn’t rely on elite athleticism. His value stems from positional defense, court awareness, and reliable spot-up shooting. These skills that tend to age well. Even if his minutes eventually decline, this contract isn’t the kind that will become an albatross. In fact, with the cap set to rise again, it may look like a bargain by year two.</p><h2><b>Final Grade: A</b></h2><p>This is a no-brainer for Houston. They needed a reliable shooter, a versatile defender, and a playoff-tested veteran who knows his role and plays it well. They got all of that in Dorian Finney-Smith, and they didn’t break the bank to do it.</p><p>For a Rockets team on the verge of genuine contention, this is the kind of surgical, smart signing that separates paper tigers from real threats. They’re deeper, better defensively, and more versatile offensively than they were 48 hours ago.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Grading Dorian Finney-Smith’s $53 million Rockets contract in 2025 NBA free agency

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-la-lands-forward-deal-losing-dorian-finney-smith');   ga('set', 'title', 'Lakers land forward on $12 million deal after losing Dorian Finney-Smith');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/LA-lands-forward-on-12-million-deal-after-losing-Dorian-Finney-Smith.jpg"><figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Lakers land forward on $12 million deal after losing Dorian Finney-Smith</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-30T16:14:33-07:00">June 30th, 4:14pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-30T17:17:57-07:00">June 30th, 5:17pm</time><address><a>Richard Pereira</a>Richard Pereira joined ClutchPoints in January 2025 as an Associate Editor. He earned his degree from Florida Atlantic University in 2023 and has been covering the school's athletic programs since 2020, having served as a Sports Editor at the FAU University Press. He was granted the unique opportunity to report on the men's basketball team's journey to the Final Four in Houston for FAU Owls Nest during March Madness, consistently striving to grow as a sports journalist.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Despite losing wing <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/rockets-news-dorian-finney-smith-shades-lakers-53-million-free-agency-contract">Dorian Finney-Smith to the Houston Rockets</a> in free agency, the Los Angeles Lakers have made their first addition of the 2025 NBA offseason with Jake LaRavia.</p><p>LaRavia will <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1939818967461171311" rel="noopener">sign a two-year, $12 million deal</a> with the Lakers, ESPN’s NBA insider Shams Charania <a href="https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1939819184978108470" rel="noopener">reported</a> on Monday.</p><p>“Free agent forward Jake LaRavia has agreed to a two-year, $12 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN. LaRavia had a strong finish after joining the Sacramento Kings last season,” Charania said.</p><p>“Fully guaranteed deal for Jake LaRavia in Los Angeles — negotiated tonight by agents Aaron Reilly and Reggie Berry of AMR Agency.”</p><p>LaRavia played for the Memphis Grizzlies and Kings this past season. He averaged 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game after 66 appearances.</p><h2><b>What’s next for Lakers after landing Jake LaRavia</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/LA-lands-forward-on-12-million-deal-after-losing-Dorian-Finney-Smith-1.jpg"><figcaption>Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>It will be a busy offseason for the Lakers, even after landing Jake LaRavia. Not only do they need solid shooting from the perimeter, but they also need depth at the center position.</p><p>Los Angeles is coming off a 2024-25 campaign where they finished with 50 wins throughout the regular season, the most since the 2019-20 season. However, their championship aspirations with Luka Doncic and LeBron James ended early after losing in five games to the Minnesota Timberwolves.</p><p>Inconsistent 3-point shooting and lack of size exposed the Lakers throughout the series. This summer will be crucial for the team to address those needs to elevate their talent and improve their chances at a title next season.</p><p>Which is what makes LaRavia an intriguing pickup. He shoots 37.1% from downtown after three years in the league so far, even though he only takes 2.7 attempts per game. The 2023-24 season showed him taking more shots from deep, making 1.5 triples at a 34% clip.</p><p>Los Angeles will continue to progress through the start of free agency. However, they must be swift in their signings as their needs must be the top priority to improve the overall quality of the roster.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Lakers land forward on $12 million deal after losing Dorian Finney-Smith

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-news-dorian-finney-smith-shades-lakers-53-million-free-agency-contract');   ga('set', 'title', 'Dorian Finney-Smith shades Lakers with $53 million Rockets free agency contract');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Dorian-Finney-Smith-shades-Lakers-with-X-million-Rockets-free-agency-contract.jpg"></figure><h1>Dorian Finney-Smith shades Lakers with $53 million Rockets free agency contract</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-30T15:32:20-07:00">June 30th, 3:32pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-30T15:55:34-07:00">June 30th, 3:55pm</time><address><a>Brett Siegel</a>Brett Siegel joined ClutchPoints as a credentialed NBA insider and reporter in May 2023 after previously covering the NBA for Fastbreak on FanNation and NBA Analysis Network, as well as working with Louisville Basketball. From playing to coaching to covering the game as a media member, Brett has been involved with the game of basketball from many different perspectives. Breaking the news of various free agent signings, yearly NBA Draft news and other key stories around the league, Brett is always on the phone, getting the latest news and rumors around the NBA. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrettSiegelNBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Veteran free agent forward Dorian Finney-Smith and the Houston Rockets <a href="https://x.com/BrettSiegelNBA/status/1939813849080971480" rel="noopener">have agreed</a> to a four-year, $53 million contract, league sources told ClutchPoints on Monday night. Finney-Smith is leaving the Los Angeles Lakers after spending a portion of the 2024-25 season with the team and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-rumors-contenders-lurking-dorian-finney-smith-declines-option">recently declining his $15.4 million player option</a>.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-dangelo-russell-trade-nets-4-player-trade">Lakers traded D’Angelo Russell</a>, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Finney-Smith and Shake Milton in December. Now, the two-way wing departs Los Angeles for a Western Conference rival in a better position to contend for a championship.</p><p>Losing Finney-Smith is a significant blow to the Lakers, especially considering that he is close friends with Luka Doncic. Los Angeles will have a hard time replacing his production on the wing in a limited free-agent market this offseason.</p><p>The final year of Finney-Smith’s new contract with Houston will contain a player option.</p><p>Finney-Smith, 32, has been known to be one of the better 3-and-D players on the wing in the NBA through the years. Multiple teams had expressed interest in him before he was traded to the Lakers this past season, and he again had playoff-contending teams interested in his services this free agency period.</p><p>However, after the Rockets <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-news-kevin-durant-trade-suns-jalen-green">traded for two-time Finals MVP and 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant</a>, Houston became a prime destination for Finney-Smith. Houston has also been very active this offseason before and after trading for Durant.</p><p>Steven Adams elected to return on a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-news-steven-adams-agrees-39-million-contract-extension">new three-year, $39 million contract</a> instead of becoming a free agent, and former NBA champion point guard Fred VanVleet restructured his deal by having his $44.9 million team option declined. Instead, VanVleet will agree to a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-rumors-fred-vanvleet-sign-50-million-contract-extension">two-year, $50 million contract</a>, which created breathing room for the team to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-news-jabari-smith-jr-secures-contract-extension">give Jabari Smith Jr. a $122 million extension</a>.</p><p>VanVleet taking less money also allowed GM Rafael Stone and the Rockets to be aggressive on the free agent market with players like Finney-Smith and Nickeil Alexander-Walker available.</p><p>Finney-Smith now becomes a key part of a revamped Rockets roster and will replace Dillon Brooks on the wing, who was included with Jalen Green in the trade with the Phoenix Suns for Durant. He averaged 8.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 41.1 percent from 3-point range in 63 combined games with the Nets and Lakers.</p><p>The Rockets finished the 2024-25 regular season with a 52-30 record, their best since the 2018-19 season when James Harden led the team to the Western Conference Semifinals. Despite their success this season as one of the younger teams in the league, Houston lost in the first round of the playoffs in a seven-game series against the Golden State Warriors.</p><p>With Durant available on the trade market and the Rockets recognizing their chance to capitalize on their championship potential, Stone and his front office pulled the trigger on the deal to acquire one of the best pure scorers in the NBA.</p><p>As a result, the Rockets have continued to add to their roster with the addition of Finney-Smith in free agency with the hopes of dethroning the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Dorian Finney-Smith shades Lakers with $53 million Rockets free agency contract

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-rumors-the-14-1-million-silver-lining-to-potential-dorian-finney-smith-loss');   ga('set', 'title', 'Lakers rumors: The $14.1 million silver lining to potential Dorian Finney-Smith loss');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Lakers-forward-Dorian-Finney-Smith-17-before-the-game.jpg"><figcaption>© Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Lakers rumors: The $14.1 million silver lining to potential Dorian Finney-Smith loss</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-30T15:22:12-07:00">June 30th, 3:22pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-30T15:22:12-07:00">June 30th, 3:22pm</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>With the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-rumors-rockets-hawks-fighting-make-multiple-wing-splashes">rumors surrounding Los Angeles Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith</a>, there has been speculation regarding what the future looks like for the 32-year-old. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-rumors-contenders-lurking-dorian-finney-smith-declines-option">Lakers’ power forward in Finney-Smith declined his player option</a> worth $15.4 million, meaning he will hit the open market, though that may not be the worst outcome for the team.</p><p>While Finney-Smith is effective as a two-way player, especially on the defensive side of the ball, and a close friend to Luka Doncic, the freeing up of his contract gives them some financial flexibility. According to Jake Fischer and Marc Stein, Finney-Smith’s departure has given Los Angeles <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/the-absolute-latest-nba-free-agency?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=167190832&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">“the full $14,1 million midlevel exception,”</a> which, with the team needing a center, could be used to their advantage.</p><p>“Losing Finney-Smith would obviously be a tough blow — not only because of his two-way ability but his status as one of Luka Dončić’s favorite teammates — but it would potentially benefit the Lakers’ bookkeeping,” Fischer and Stein wrote on “The Stein Line” on Monday. “Finney-Smith’s exit would unlock the full $14.1 million midlevel exception for the Lakers, who badly need to come away with a front-line center from the business they conduct this week.”</p><h2><b>Lakers “remain hopeful” on retaining Dorian Finney-Smith</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Dorian-Finney-Smith.jpg"><figcaption>Matt Blewett-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>In terms of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-rumors-rockets-biggest-threat-steal-away-key-lakers-free-agent">players that will go after the Lakers’ free agent</a>, it has been speculated that the Houston Rockets are one of the front-runners to do so. After the team made a blockbuster deal for superstar Kevin Durant, the organization could also go after Finney-Smith, but Fischer and Marc Stein still say that Los Angeles<a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/the-latest-freshest-and-hottest-nba?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=167147450&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener"> “remain hopeful”</a> on getting back the Florida product.</p><p>“The Rockets have use of their full $14.1 million midlevel exception to offer to Finney-Smith even after their considerable roster business in recent days,” Marc Stein and Jake Fischer wrote for The Stein Line. “There were strong suggestions Sunday that Houston is preparing a four-year offer for Finney-Smith … but perhaps at a figure shy of the full MLE amount.”</p><p>“The Lakers, meanwhile, remain hopeful of retaining Finney-Smith. The 32-year-old’s decision to bypass his $15.4 million player option for next season — when that move wasn’t accompanied by the announcement that he had agreed to terms with the Lakers on a new multiyear contract to replace it — surprised numerous observers leaguewide.”</p><p>At any rate, Los Angeles looks to further improve with free agency having started on Monday evening.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Lakers rumors: The $14.1 million silver lining to potential Dorian Finney-Smith loss

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-news-houston-emerges-as-serious-dorian-finney-smith-suitor');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rockets emerge as serious Dorian Finney-Smith suitor');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Dorian-Finney-Smith-guarding-Anthony-Edwards-1.jpg"><figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Rockets emerge as serious Dorian Finney-Smith suitor</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-29T15:24:31-07:00">June 29th, 3:24pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-29T15:24:31-07:00">June 29th, 3:24pm</time><address><a>Lorenzo J Reyna</a>Lorenzo J Reyna is an Associate Editor covering the NFL and NCAA Football for ClutchPoints. He's equipped with past experience for both realms through his recent stops at Pro Football Network and Heavy while also writing for 247Sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Rockets have risen as an early aggressor when it comes to NBA free agency moves. They already removed themselves from the Jalen Green era — <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-news-kevin-durant-trade-suns-jalen-green">by adding Kevin Durant in the bombshell June 22 trade</a>. Now Dorian Finney-Smith could be next to arrive.</p><p>The versatile Los Angeles Lakers forward <a href="https://x.com/JakeLFischer/status/1939440254651351282" rel="noopener">is immediately linked</a> to Houston, per NBA reporter Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.</p><p>“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,” Fischer posted on X (formerly Twitter).</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-rumors-contenders-lurking-dorian-finney-smith-declines-option">Contenders are lining up already for Finney-Smith</a>. But now Houston crashes the mix. And earns a new chance to further enhance their roster post Durant-Green trade.</p><h2><b>How effective Dorian Finney-Smith can be for Rockets </b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Rockets-bench.jpg"><figcaption>Troy Taormina-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Lakers can now focus on adding a big man presence following the Luka Doncic trade this offseason. They also earn financial flexibility thanks to Finney-Smith’s decision.</p><p>He brings a veteran wing presence to the floor. He guards the elite shooters on the perimeter too. He’s created 0.9 steals per game the last two seasons. Finney-Smith adds shooting touch too — hitting 44.2% of his field goals including nearly getting 40% of his threes into the hoop.</p><p>He’d add conference finals experience into any room he walks into, including the Rockets. Finney-Smith played alongside Doncic on the Dallas Mavericks team that played in the WCF in the 2022 season.</p><p>Houston doesn’t appear to be through with only adding Durant. Especially in the name of surrounding rising star Alperen Sengun with veteran talent. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/1-sneaky-good-player-rockets-must-sign-2025-nba-free-agency-kevin-durant-trade">Chris Boucher is one more intriguing free agent for Houston</a>. The 6-foot-9, 200-pounder gives Durant, Sengun and the Rockets a long depth option to help keep both fresh. Finney-Smith further boosts the depth and defensive options if brought over.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Rockets emerge as serious Dorian Finney-Smith suitor

Cheick Diallo

Michael Beasley

Abdel Nader

Tony Bradley

Dorian Finney-Smith

Thaddeus Young

Omari Spellman

Allen Crabbe

Dewayne Dedmon

Trevor Ariza

Dallas Mavericks

Brooklyn Nets

Los Angeles Lakers

Career

3 seasons

https://twitter.com/doefinney_10/status/1548350965555687424/

Excited to be part of #ULTRAMovementLive with @michelobultra where I’ll lead you in a workout on my home court. Link in bio to RSVP. 

https://twitter.com/doefinney_10/status/1283821931482021891/

Bubble life! 😷 @ Disney's Magic Kingdom 

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
10.4	4.6	1.6	0.6	0.9

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
10.4	4.6	1.6	0.6	0.9

Dorian
Finney-Smith

Latest Dorian Finney-Smith News

Grading Dorian Finney-Smith’s $53 million Rockets contract in 2025 NBA free agency

Lakers land forward on $12 million deal after losing Dorian Finney-Smith

Dorian Finney-Smith shades Lakers with $53 million Rockets free agency contract

Lakers rumors: The $14.1 million silver lining to potential Dorian Finney-Smith loss

Rockets emerge as serious Dorian Finney-Smith suitor

Latest Dorian Finney-Smith Tweets