The Los Angeles Lakers landed Dorian Finney-Smith in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, however they needed to sneak round one other Western Convention staff to get the deal accomplished.
The Lakers despatched D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round picks (2027, ’30, ’31) in change for Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. They weren’t the one social gathering inquisitive about Finney-Smith.
Based on NBA insider Marc Stein, the Lakers swooped in to beat the Memphis Grizzlies’ provide for the veteran ahead. Stein claims Memphis’ provide centered round John Konchard and Luke Kennard plus a heavily-protected first-round decide. The Nets most popular LA’s provide of three second-rounders.
The Lakers have swooped in to high Memphis’ commerce provide for Dorian Finney-Smith … with the Nets selecting three second-round picks from L.A. because the prime return for Finney-Smith moderately than a closely protected first-round decide from Memphis. https://t.co/zVkOW21DYO
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 29, 2024
This marks the second time the Lakers have traded Russell to the Nets. Again in June of 2017, Russell and Timofey Mozgov had been shipped to Brooklyn in change for Brook Lopez and the draft rights to Kyle Kuzma.
Russell is averaging 12.4 factors, 2.8 rebound sand 4.7 assists in 26.3 minutes per recreation and is making $18.7 million within the remaining 12 months of his contract. Lewis is a former second-round decide who’s a ball of potential however has but to get important enjoying time within the NBA. The 22-year-old has solely seen motion in 41 video games over his two-year profession and has averaged 3.2 minutes in these contests.
The Lakers have lengthy pursued Finney-Smith and eventually obtained their man on Sunday. The 31-year-old ahead is averaging 10.4 factors and 4.6 rebounds in 29.0 minutes per recreation this season whereas capturing a career-high 43.5% from three-point vary. He is making $14.9 million this season and holds a $15.4 million participant possibility for the 2025-26 marketing campaign.
In the meantime, Milton is an instant-offense-type capturing guard who’s hitting 38.9% from three-point vary this season. He is within the first season of a three-year, $9.2 million deal that makes him an extremely low-cost rotation piece for Los Angeles.
The Lakers snagged the man they wished, obtained higher and had been in a position to edge out a Western Convention foe within the course of.
