The Los Angeles Lakers lost a key piece of their rotation at the onset of free agency as Dorian Finney-Smith agreed to join the Houston Rockets on a four-year, $53 million deal. The organization quickly pivoted as they agreed to a two-year, $12 million contract with Jake LaRavia.
They used a portion of the $14.1 million midlevel exception that became available following the departure of Finney-Smith, who spent just half a season with the Lakers. Los Angeles was reportedly willing to let the 3-and-D wing walk in an effort to preserve their cap space for the 2027 free agent class, where they hope to find a running mate for Luka Dončić.
“By Finney-Smith leaving, L.A. has access to the full midlevel exception, rather than the taxpayer’s MLE — worth approximately half at $6.7 million — and also the biannual exception, worth approximately $5.1 million,” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin wrote Monday. “Though Finney-Smith was a popular locker room figure and helped the Lakers to a 14-6 record in the 20 games he started in the regular season, L.A. exercised discipline in its negotiations to preserve cap space for 2027, when the team expects to have space to sign a max-salary free agent.”
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The 2027 free agent class is expected to be loaded. In addition to Dončić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Donovan Mitchell, Kyrie Irving, Karl-Anthony Towns, Kawhi Leonard and Trae Young could all be available.
While many of those players will sign new deals with their current teams, the opportunity to team up with Dončić in Los Angeles could certainty entice at least one star to join the Lakers. It is unclear how the organization prioritizing the future could affect LeBron James as the four-time MVP hopes to compete for at least one more championship as his career winds down.
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