Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 111-108 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, Dorian Finney-Smith was greeted by several familiar faces in the Barclays Center tunnels, including Nets general manager Sean Marks, who had traded him just two months prior. Unlike many midseason trades, there was no animosity, only a sense of mutual understanding.
“I knew the situation. I knew there was a chance that I was gonna traded this season,” Finney-Smith told ClutchPoints. “I just appreciate the Nets and the coaching staff and everybody for being professional about it.”
With the Nets pivoting to a rebuild, Finney-Smith’s timeline no longer aligned with the team’s direction. The trade, which sent Finney-Smith to the Lakers in exchange for three second-round picks and D’Angelo Russell’s expiring contract, proved beneficial for both sides.
Los Angeles Lakers, JJ Redick On Dorian Finney Smith
The Lakers, who struggled defensively in the first half of the season, viewed Finney-Smith’s acquisition as a potential solution. Despite some initial skepticism, his arrival coincided with a remarkable defensive turnaround. The Lakers’ defensive ranking improved from 21st before the trade to fourth since, and they have posted the NBA’s fifth-best record at 22-10 in that span.
“He’s brought a level of toughness. Certainly communication and the spirit to want to defend. I think guys have responded well to who he is as a player, a teammate, a person. He’s just fit right in,” JJ Redick said of Finney-Smith. “Our season kind of turned around, the energy and spirit of our group turned around when we got him. He’s been huge for us.”
Finney-Smith’s impact is evident in the Lakers’ net rating, as they outscore opponents by 15.5 points per 100 possessions during his minutes, the NBA’s fourth-highest net rating swing among players with over 500 minutes played. His size and defensive versatility have been instrumental alongside LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Jarred Vanderbilt.
“His positional size [is great]… He guards centers and he guards perimeter players. He can do everything. He’s extremely tough and a great teammate, and that just helps. And that’s why I think part of their success comes from bringing in guys like him,” said Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez. “He was very good for us on the defensive end when he was here. The ability to put him on a center and switch, to put him on a guard and switch again. That versatility is great and I believe that has been part of their success.”
Finney-Smith’s journey from a rebuilding Nets team to a championship-contending Lakers squad alongside James and Luka Doncic illustrates the unpredictable nature of the NBA. Having experienced playoff success with Doncic in Dallas, Finney-Smith is embracing the opportunity.
“I was taught expectations are always a good thing. That means you’re doing something right,” he said. “We just gotta stay together and keep trying to win games. It’s hard to win games in the NBA. But we just gotta keep it going. [I’m] just bringing energy. Being me and being talkative with the rest of the guys. That toughness is one of the things I knew I’d bring to the table. So I’m glad I’ve been able to provide that here.”