Los Angeles Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith reportedly decided to turn down the player option on his contract for the 2025-26 season on Sunday, which means he will become a free agent. That means the Lakers will have some options.
His decision opens up the full mid-level exception for them, but there is a real chance he returns, and the Lakers do reportedly want to bring him back. However, they will have some competition for his services.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Houston Rockets, who finished second in the Western Conference this season, are one possible landing spot for Finney-Smith in free agency.
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: https://t.co/uH1l3UTHHR
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 29, 2025
The Rockets recently agreed to acquire future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns and should be an even stronger team next season. That, at least in theory, could make them very enticing for Finney-Smith.
However, he apparently has a friendship with Luka Doncic, whom he played with for four and a half seasons as a member of the Dallas Mavericks.
Los Angeles acquired Finney-Smith in late December from the Brooklyn Nets for D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second-round draft picks. The 32-year-old made a major impact on the team as the type of 3-and-D wing it had lacked for years.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Rockets are reportedly a possible landing spot for Dorian Finney-Smith