NBA Trade Rumors: Nets Want 'Equivalent' of 2 1st-Round Picks for Dorian Finney-Smith
The Brooklyn Nets have a high asking price for Dorian Finney-Smith in potential trade talks, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
"He's a guy who could fit literally on every team, but on a championship contender or high-caliber playoff team, he'd be great," Scotto said. "They would want the equivalent of two first-round picks for him, I'm told."
Finney-Smith is averaging 9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in 35 appearances this year, including 24 starts.
The 30-year-old has remained effective as a shooter, hitting 43.1 percent of his field goals and canning 40.9 percent of his triples. However, the Nets have lost 12 of their past 15 games and could make moves to obtain future draft capital ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline.
While the reported asking price seems high, an opposing front office could expect Finney-Smith to excel in a different role than the one he's currently in. His -2.8 net rating is the third-worst mark of any Nets player to appear in at least 20 contests this season, but his usage on defense is likely hurting his overall impact (via NBA.com).
As Brooklyn's roster is filled with several quality wing players, Finney-Smith has often played in both frontcourt spots. The 6'7" forward has played 22 percent of his minutes at center this season, the highest mark of his career (per Basketball Reference). He doesn't possess the size or the shot-blocking prowess to shut down opposing bigs, which could partially explain why the team has been worse with him on the floor this year.
Finney-Smith is under contract for one more season, then owns a $15 million player option for his 2025-26 campaign (via Spotrac). If a contending team is looking for a low-usage defensive wing that can space the floor for a star, they'll have to meet Brooklyn's relatively expensive asking price.
