Rockets Zero in on Ex-Net with MLE as Lakers Anticipate Setback

Rockets Eye Dorian Finney-Smith with MLE as Lakers Prepare for Loss

The Houston Rockets are looking to use their full mid-level exception (MLE) to sign former Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith, with the Los Angeles Lakers now falling out of the race for his services, according to Dan Woike.

The trade that brought Finney-Smith to the Lakers in December is quickly fading into irrelevance. The deal, which saw D’Angelo Russell and Maxwell Lewis go to the Brooklyn Nets, was part of the Lakers’ move to bolster their frontcourt before a blockbuster acquisition of Luka Dončić. However, Finney-Smith ended up being another casualty of the Nets’ “ethical tanking” strategy, alongside Dennis Schröder.

After joining the Lakers, Finney-Smith saw a reduced role, with his scoring average dropping by over two points per game and his 3-point shooting percentage dipping nearly four percent compared to his time in Brooklyn.

Now, it looks like Finney-Smith will leave the Lakers, with the Rockets set to add him to their roster, joining Kevin Durant, Alperen Şengün, and Amen Thompson. The Rockets have the full MLE available, making it likely they’ll use it to secure Finney-Smith.

The irony is that Maxwell Lewis was waived by the Nets recently, and there’s growing speculation that Russell might end up with the Dallas Mavericks. If both Finney-Smith and Russell leave, only veteran guard Shake Milton will remain from the December trade.

In retrospect, the Brooklyn Nets are likely the winners of this deal. If the Lakers lose both Finney-Smith and Russell, the Nets will have essentially traded half a season of those players for Russell, Lewis, and three future second-round draft picks (2027, 2030, and 2031).

Though this trade might not be remembered as a major turning point in NBA history (unless the Nets land a star player with one of the second-round picks), it highlights the fast-moving nature of the modern NBA.

If Finney-Smith departs the Lakers, they’ll need to find a replacement for their starting wing spot. While he wasn’t a pure shooter, his “3-and-D” skills will be tough to replace, and the Lakers might look into acquiring Cam Johnson. Los Angeles is expected to make multiple moves this summer as they aim for a championship run, which could mark the only full season of the Doncic-LeBron James pairing—a scenario that the Nets should keep an eye on.