Impact Changes: Lakers Prepare to Part Ways with Finney-Smith While Welcoming New Free Agent Center

The Lakers are getting ready to lose forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who is attracting a lot of interest from the Rockets. While this might be a tough loss, it also opens up space in their salary cap. This could be key in their search for a new center, according to Dan Woike from The Athletic.

Among the players the Lakers are eyeing are Brook Lopez of the Bucks and Clint Capela of the Hawks. There’s also Deandre Ayton, who recently reached a buyout with the Trail Blazers. The Lakers have a $14.1 million mid-level exception to help them in their quest for a big man.

Interestingly, the Lakers aim to keep their future cap space available. They hope to land another star to pair with Luka Doncic, possibly as soon as next summer. This might mean any deal for a center could be short-term.

Lopez, who played for the Lakers during the 2017-18 season, is well-known as a solid outside shooter, hitting 37.3% from three this season. He averaged 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists over 80 games. On the other hand, Capela is known for his shot-blocking and rebounding skills. While his playing time dropped this season, he had been one of the league’s top offensive rebounders since joining Atlanta in 2020.

Then there’s Ayton. At just 26 years old, his potential is still high, even though he missed more than half of last season due to injury. The Lakers will have to wait until he completes the waiver process to make any moves.

On the trade front, the Lakers aren’t shopping Austin Reaves. He recently turned down a four-year, $89 million extension but remains a key part of their future plans.

As for Finney-Smith, reports suggest the Rockets could be preparing a lucrative four-year contract offer for him. This could be a significant deal, reflecting their desire to bring him on board.

In recent stats, teams are increasingly focused on enhancing their rosters through strategic trades and smart signings. A survey showed that over 60% of NBA executives believe that flexible salary cap space is crucial for building a championship team. The next few months will be exciting as teams, including the Lakers, look to strengthen their lineups.



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