Dorian Finney-Smith on playing for the Lakers this season

Early this season, the Los Angeles Lakers badly needed a 3-and-D forward with length. It was something they had needed for a few years.

In late December, they finally addressed that need by trading struggling guard D'Angelo Russell and little-used forward Maxwell Lewis to the Brooklyn Nets for forward Dorian Finney-Smith and guard Shake Milton. Finney-Smith immediately made an impact and helped the Lakers transform their identity.

They had been a weak defensive team in October, November and December, but afterward, they had long stretches during which they locked opponents down with regularity.

After the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs, Finney-Smith quickly reflected on being a member of the team and getting to again play with Luka Doncic.

Via Lakers Nation:

“Being here has been amazing,” he said in his exit interview. “Making it to the 3-seed has been fun, Luka coming in February was a big surprise to many, especially me. Happy to be back with my dawg. Just mad right now that our season ended.”

Finney-Smith had been sent by the Dallas Mavericks to the Nets midway through the 2022-23 season in the deal that sent All-Star guard Kyrie Irving to Dallas. Doncic once again created many good looks from 3-point range for Finney-Smith, and the forward ended up shooting 40% from that distance once Doncic made his Lakers debut.

Finney-Smith has a player option for next season that he can either play on or turn down in order to become a free agent this summer. Among their other tasks this summer, Los Angeles needs to retain him one way or another in order to have a real shot at winning the NBA championship next season.