Latest Lakers Rumors Surrounding Dorian Finney-Smith Contract, Targets in Trades, FA

With the 2025 NBA free-agent negotiation period set to start Monday, rumors are swirling regarding the Los Angeles Lakers potential targets both internally and outside the organization.

Forward Dorian Finney-Smith is somewhat in flux, as he has until Sunday to decide whether he wants to opt in at a salary of $15.4 million with the Lakers for the 2025-26 campaign or opt out and test free agency.

According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, a source familiar with talks between Finney-Smith and the Lakers said that while Finney-Smith has interest in remaining in L.A., he may opt out and seek a multi-year deal elsewhere if the Lakers aren't willing to give him one.

There are a number of different offers the Lakers could potentially make, including a three-year deal worth up to $54 million through Saturday, a four-year deal worth up to $90.2 million between Sunday and Monday, or a four-year deal worth up to $96.5 million after he opts in should he choose to do so.

Los Angeles acquired the 32-year-old veteran along with Shake Milton from the Brooklyn Nets back in December in exchange for D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second-round picks.

DFS, who spent parts of three seasons in Brooklyn after parts of seven seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, was brought in to provide positional versatility, defense and three-point shooting.

He went on to start 20 of the 43 games he played for the Lakers, averaging 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.9 three-pointers made and 1.4 assists, while shooting 44.2 percent from the field and 39.8 percent from beyond the arc.

The numbers don't jump off the page, but he was a solid role player, and he would be a good fit once again next season alongside the likes of LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.

Although the Finney-Smith situation is significant, there is no question that the Lakers' top priority this offseason is adding a quality center.

The Lakers tried to do that prior to the trade deadline last season by acquiring Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets, but the deal was rescinded due to a medical issue and there wasn't enough time to make another move.

L.A.'s lack of talent at the center position manifested itself in the playoffs, as T-Wolves big men Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid had their way with the Lakers.

Per McMenamin, the Lakers were linked to both Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler and Miami Heat wing Andrew Wiggins this week, but nothing has come to fruition yet.

The Lakers reportedly balked at Utah's asking price for Kessler during the 2024-25 season, as the Jazz reportedly wanted multiple first-round picks.

Kessler would be a perfect fit in Los Angeles, though, after averaging a career-high 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.7 assists per game last season. He also led the NBA with 4.6 offensive rebounds per contest.

On top of that, Kessler doesn't turn 24 until next month, and he has a salary of only $4.9 million next season before becoming a restricted free agent.

While acquiring Kessler would perhaps be the best-case scenario for the Lakers, there are other options they could revisit that they were linked to last season as well.

McMenamin noted that trades for Onyeka Okongwu of the Atlanta Hawks, Nic Claxton of the Nets and Robert Williams III of the Portland Trail Blazers were all discussed by the Lakers last season.

Also, veteran free agents Clint Capela, Al Horford and Brook Lopez could reportedly be on the Lakers' radar if a trade doesn't emerge.