Lakers pursuing Brook Lopez and Clint Capela, expect to lose Dorian Finney-Smith: Sources https://t.co/FEL7vvfhlV— LakerTom (@LakerTom) June 30, 2025
Lakers pursuing Lopez and Capela, expect to lose Finney-Smith
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June 30, 2025 5 Comments
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FROM THE ABOVE ARTICLE:
As one key rotation piece prepares an exit, the Los Angeles Lakers are interested in some of the top centers in free agency with an eye toward a top-tier long-term partner for Luka Dončić in the future.
The Lakers are bracing to lose forward Dorian Finney-Smith in free agency to a multi-year deal with the Houston Rockets, according to team sources. The loss of a valuable wing — and a beloved teammate of Dončić’s — will create a void on the perimeter. However, Finney-Smith’s exit will open up a pathway for the Lakers to be aggressive in targeting the top available centers in free agency.
Armed with the $14.1 million mid-level exception, the Lakers are expected to chase Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez and the Atlanta Hawks’ Clint Capela, with the surprise addition of Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton as another target on their list. The Lakers are not making calls gauging Austin Reaves’ trade value, one of the sources said.
The tone of Sunday’s messaging was such that it’s fair to wonder how the LeBron-Lakers partnership will go from here.
As free agency begins, the Lakers are motivated not to sacrifice long-term flexibility as they begin to arm themselves for a potential run at another superstar to pair with Dončić as soon as next summer.
Reaves, who turned down a nearly $90 million extension last week, is viewed as a key piece alongside Dončić, the star the team is building around in the present and future.
Sunday, LeBron James opted into the final year of his contract with the Lakers, but The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported the team and James didn’t discuss any additional years beyond next season.
Sounds about what I’ve been saying, hard for me to see them bagging both tho. Would prefer Nick Richards over Lopez but I’d be fine with Brook. Just prefer a younger body more than anything.
Jamie…I’ve brought up this guy a few times….he’s an old vet, but I like him for his size and toughness…Myles Plumlee….played for vet minimum last year with the Suns…played for Clippers before that, maybe he likes LA….(my target center …no pun intended…list is Lopez and Plumlee and Hayes as 3rd center/maybe he can play some 4 if DFS doesnt come back. I wish Hayes back at reasonable salary with patience and no bad feelings for how the media put him down for his playoff non-use…Lakers definitely need to trade Kleber if he has no future and if there are any takers, maybe incentivize the trade by adding in Vanderbilt, who I feel is overrated, and an offensive roadblock, if the ball goes his way, not much good results….he is not the consistent lock down defender like a Rodman type, not even a partial Sochan type…..and he’s been overpaid and unavailable since he signed that far too early contract….he’s under contract for 2 more years, and has the option on the third year out…… I feel Gabe Vincent may be expendable if Jordan Goodwin steps up his game…..Gabe is an expiring contract, and may have some interest from a team looking to fill a void (not good enough to fill the hole in Dallas)….
Hard for me to see any of those moves happening in the summer. Not without burning a draft pick or more. That’s not what the Lakers need, right now. They need to add picks or at least hold the line for a couple seasons until they can add 2-3 picks in a trade. Kleber and Vincent could be moved closer to the deadline but nobody trading for 2 guys who have to prove they can come back from injuries and take a step forward.
IMO all of these scenarios where we have 2 or 3 weight contracts as the main lure in a trade are pure fantasy. We wouldn’t make a deal for them, why would anyone else?
I agree, the Laker players in the $7-$12 million range, these guys….Vincent, Kleber, and Vanderbilt…..have not been on the court the past 2 years….and they are overpaid as a result….Not interesting til the trade deadline as expiring contract for Vincent and Kleber. I’m not going to waste my time to total up the number of games these 3 players have played over the past 2 seasons.