The Houston Rockets will have the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception available to go after a player of Alexander-Walker’s caliber. However, such a scenario would depend on their appetite to go above the luxury tax. Houston will pursue Los Angeles Lakers free-agent forward Dorian Finney-Smith, league sources told HoopsHype.
Source: HoopsHype
Source: HoopsHype
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Khobi Price @khobi_price
The @ocregister story on LeBron James picking up his 2025-26 player option with Lakers for an unprecedented 23rd NBA season, Dorian Finney-Smith declining his option and where LAL stands entering free agency: ocregister.com/2025/06/29/leb… – 2:26 PM
The @ocregister story on LeBron James picking up his 2025-26 player option with Lakers for an unprecedented 23rd NBA season, Dorian Finney-Smith declining his option and where LAL stands entering free agency: ocregister.com/2025/06/29/leb… – 2:26 PM
Emiliano Carchia @Sportando
Dorian Finney-Smith Declines $15.4M Player Option With LA Lakers sportando.basketball/en/dorian-finn… – 1:38 PM
Dorian Finney-Smith Declines $15.4M Player Option With LA Lakers sportando.basketball/en/dorian-finn… – 1:38 PM
Brad Turner @BA_Turner
A source confirmed that Dorian Finney-Smith has declined his player option with the Lakers of $15.4 million and will become a free agent. Returning to the Lakers remains a possibility. – 12:36 PM
A source confirmed that Dorian Finney-Smith has declined his player option with the Lakers of $15.4 million and will become a free agent. Returning to the Lakers remains a possibility. – 12:36 PM
Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42
Lakers offseason Take 2
* Lakers have access to the $14.1M non-tax ML if Dorian Finney-Smith does not resign.
* Using more than $5.7M+ triggers the first apron
* Lakers also have the $5.1M biannual exception. That also triggers the first apron. pic.x.com/BpQCqDUzCP – 12:12 PM
Lakers offseason Take 2
* Lakers have access to the $14.1M non-tax ML if Dorian Finney-Smith does not resign.
* Using more than $5.7M+ triggers the first apron
* Lakers also have the $5.1M biannual exception. That also triggers the first apron. pic.x.com/BpQCqDUzCP – 12:12 PM
Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
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.x.com/BlYf5Fzplj – 12:04 PM
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.x.com/BlYf5Fzplj – 12:04 PM
Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42
Lakers offseason with LeBron opting-in
* Lakers have the $5.7M tax ML if Dorian Finney-Smith opts-in.
* They will have the $14.1M non-tax ML if Smith opts-out and signs with a new team pic.x.com/sMOEZF0gGl – 11:33 AM
Lakers offseason with LeBron opting-in
* Lakers have the $5.7M tax ML if Dorian Finney-Smith opts-in.
* They will have the $14.1M non-tax ML if Smith opts-out and signs with a new team pic.x.com/sMOEZF0gGl – 11:33 AM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
For whatever this is worth, even if Dorian Finney-Smith does opt out and leave, I still think that trade was worth it for the Lakers.
More or less turned around last season for the Lakers, and having one of his favorite teammates probably helped Luka adjust to LA as well. – 1:17 PM
For whatever this is worth, even if Dorian Finney-Smith does opt out and leave, I still think that trade was worth it for the Lakers.
More or less turned around last season for the Lakers, and having one of his favorite teammates probably helped Luka adjust to LA as well. – 1:17 PM
Erik Slater @erikslater_
The Nets have waived Maxwell Lewis, per team.
Lewis was on a non-guaranteed minimum contract after joining the team in a midseason trade that sent Dorian Finney-Smith to the Lakers. – 3:32 PM
The Nets have waived Maxwell Lewis, per team.
Lewis was on a non-guaranteed minimum contract after joining the team in a midseason trade that sent Dorian Finney-Smith to the Lakers. – 3:32 PM
More on this storyline
Jake Fischer: 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. More NBA from us: tinyurl.com/3nfhybht -via Twitter @JakeLFischer / June 29, 2025
The Lakers, meanwhile, are expected to focus their free agent business on addressing their well-chronicled need for a front-line center and trying to re-sign Dorian Finney-Smith, who declined his $15.4 million player option Sunday to become an unrestricted free agent. Sources say the Lakers have registered strong interest in retaining Finney-Smith. -via marcstein.substack.com / June 29, 2025
Yossi Gozlan: Lakers likely a first apron team with LeBron James opting in and if Dorian Finney-Smith returns. They’d be limited to 100 percent salary matches in trades and the $5.7 million tax MLE. They could open up more trade options and the $14.1 million non-tax MLE by reducing payroll. -via Twitter @YossiGozlan / June 29, 2025