Dorian Finney-Smith Joining Kevin Durant’s Rockets Has Fans Trolling Lakers: “Lakers Are Poverty”

Los Angeles Lakers had traded multiple second round picks and D'Angelo Russell to the Nets to bring in Dorian Finney-Smith last season.

Dorian Finney-Smith Joining Kevin Durant’s Rockets Has Fans Trolling Lakers: “Lakers Are Poverty”

Dorian Finney-Smith joins Kevin Durant's Rockets (Image via FirstSportz)

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The Los Angeles Lakers were supposed to be the ones busy in this offseason as they try to build a roster good enough to help Luka Doncic and LeBron James compete for a title. One of the key players awaiting a renewed contract was Dorian Finney-Smith.

The star forward was a major addition for the Lakers and had a major hand in the team’s improvements on defense. His presence helped them defeat the likes of Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets, something they had not done for nearly two years.

DFS was scheduled to earn $15.38 million if he had picked up his player option. However, the star declined it as he wanted a long-term deal, which the team was not interested in. Still, their fans wanted the franchise to keep the player who was close with both Doncic and head coach JJ Redick.

Now, all that has seemingly gone out the window as ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Finney-Smith signed a 4-year, $53 million deal with the Houston Rockets. This move saves the franchise a ton of money.

At the same time, it strengthens the Houston Rockets, who essentially added defensive depth to pair alongside Kevin Durant. They were the second-best team in the league, and this addition will boost their chances of battling for the title.

On the other hand, losing Dorian Finney-Smith to a conference rival can be a deterrent if they meet each other in the playoffs. The 32-year-old is now armed with knowledge on how to beat the Lakers if needed.

Basketball fans troll Lakers for losing Dorian Finney-Smith to Rockets

Basketball fans tracking notifications from Shams Charania believe this was a blow to the Los Angeles Lakers. They believe the franchise lost an experienced veteran defender who has proven his worth just because they could not agree to his demands.

On top of that, those fans poked fun at the fact that the franchise gave up multiple second round picks and D’Angelo Russell to bring in Finney-Smith. That means the Lakers shot themselves in the foot, losing all that draft capital for what eventually became a rental. Check out examples of those comments below:

Dorian Finney-Smith’s relationship with Luka Doncic and JJ Redick should have been enough to keep him in Los Angeles. However, it seems GM Rob Pelinka had something else in mind, as his latest two additions indicate he wants a younger team around the Slovenian superstar.

Lakers add Jake LaRavia to take over Dorian Finney-Smith’s spot

The Los Angeles Lakers likely made their first moves to replace Dorian Finney-Smith by trading up and drafting Adou Thiero in the second round. Then, Rob Pelinka was made aware of the availability of Sacramento Kings star Jake LaRavia and pounced.

Jake LaRavia adds wing depth for Lakers
Jake LaRavia adds wing depth for Lakers (Image via Open Source/X)

Shams Charania revealed that the California native has signed a 2-year, $12 million deal to wear purple and gold next season. Along with Thiero, the addition of the 23-year-old LaRavia suggests the franchise is gearing up for its post-LeBron James era.

They do not have many draft picks for the next few years and are doing everything to give Doncic a team that they can build upon. The problem for both James and Lakers fans is that they want to win now. It is possible that these moves could help them this season.

However, there is a slim chance that all the developmental work might not help the league’s all-time leading scorer retire with a fifth title. There are rumors he is seeking a trade, but there is a slim chance of that happening, considering his salary, age, and overall impact.

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