LeBron James isn’t the only member of the Los Angeles Lakers who has until Sunday to decide whether to opt in to his player option for next season. Forward Dorian Finney-Smith has a $15.4 million option for the 2025-26 season that he will have to make a decision on by June 29.
The Lakers acquired Finney-Smith in late December for guard D’Angelo Russell, little-used forward Maxwell Lewis and three second-round draft picks. Almost instantly, he made a positive impact on the team and provided it with the type of 3-and-D wing it had lacked for years.
Dave McMenamin of ESPN outlined the options Finney-Smith will have in free agency and how much interest he has in staying put.
“Up until Saturday, the Lakers can offer Finney-Smith a three-year extension worth $54 million, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks,” wrote McMenamin. “From Between Sunday and Monday, L.A. can offer him a four-year extension worth $90.2 million — with his player option being replaced with a new salary.
“If Finney-Smith opted in for $15.4 million for next season, he’d be eligible to sign a four-year deal worth $96.5 million, assuming he signs after July 6 when the free agent moratorium is lifted. A source familiar with the talks told ESPN that while Finney-Smith has interest in returning to L.A., he could look elsewhere for a multiyear deal if the only way to stay with the Lakers is to opt into his deal.
“The Finney-Smith resolution could have significant effects in determining the options available to L.A.”
Finney-Smith opting out of his contract and leaving would be a blow to the Lakers, who badly need depth and more complementary players around James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. At the same time, it could allow them to use the full midlevel exception of $14.1 million, which would greatly expand their options in free agency. Otherwise, they will just have the much smaller taxpayer midlevel exception of $5.7 million.
Finney-Smith, 32, averaged 7.9 points, 3.6 points, 1.4 assists and 0.9 steals a game and shot 39.8% from 3-point range during the regular season after coming to L.A.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: What are Dorian Finney-Smith’s options in free agency this summer?