Lakers Trolled by Fans After Dorian Finney-Smith, Clint Capela Sign Rockets Contracts

The Los Angeles Lakers continue to take L’s this offseason.

After acquiring veteran two-way forward Dorian Finney-Smith at the trade deadline, the team lost him in free agency to the Houston Rockets, ESPN's Shams Charania reported.

Then came another blow — longtime target and Atlanta Hawks big man Clint Capela, who had been seen as a strong fit to shore up L.A.’s center depth, also chose Houston, per Charania.

The Lakers also missed out on veteran big man Brook Lopez, who opted to sign with the cross-town rival Los Angeles Clippers, according to Charania.

With both players slipping away, Lakers fans have taken to social media to roast the team, as the early hours of free agency are already proving frustrating.

The Lakers’ only offseason win so far came Sunday, when 40-year-old LeBron James officially picked up his $52.6 million player option for the 2025–26 season, ESPN’s Charania reported.

The 21-time All-Star believes staying with the Lakers gives him the best chance to secure a fifth championship before considering retirement.

"LeBron wants to compete for a championship," James' agent Rich Paul told ESPN. "He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we've had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career."

"We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what's best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what's best for him."

If James and the Lakers want to win another championship, they’ll need to find more puzzle pieces for their roster after letting some solid players slip away and facing a first-round playoff exit last season.