The Dallas Mavericks are reportedly predicted to reunite with Brooklyn Nets Power Forward Dorian Finney-Smith. The Mavericks helped Finney-Smith, 31, go from being undrafted to a solidified starting Power Forward in Dallas, Texas. The Portsmouth, Virginia, native played college basketball at Virginia from 2011 to 2012 and Florida from 2013 to 2016 before going undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft.
Finney-Smith was a fan favorite during his time in Dallas. Not only that, Finney-Smith was one of Luka Doncic’s favorite teammates, so the Mavericks can bring him back to help them in more ways than one. Here’s what you need to know.
The Dallas Mavericks can reunite with Brooklyn Nets Power Forward Dorian Finney-Smith soon. Finney-Smith previously played for the Mavericks from 2016 to 2023. The Virginia and Florida alum received a 2016 NBA Opening Night roster spot and eventually earned a starting role during the 2019-20 NBA season.
The Mavericks have a decent 4-3 record to open the 2024-25 NBA season. But the Mavericks’ minds are focused on returning to the NBA Finals. If the Mavericks repeat as Western Conference Champions, Dallas must ensure it has enough wing depth for a potential NBA Finals rematch against the Boston Celtics.
On Monday, Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes suggested that the Mavericks should pursue Finney-Smith on the trade market. Finney-Smith’s a three-and-D specialist who was close to Luka Doncic during his previous stint with the Mavericks. Hughes even called Finney-Smith a “dream target” for the Mavericks.
The Dallas Mavericks traded Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick, and second round picks in 2027 and 2029, to the Nets in exchange for Kyrie Irving and Markieff Morris on February 6, 2023. Finney-Smith has been playing in Brooklyn since then. Right now, Finney-Smith is in the third year of a four-year, $55.6 million veteran contract extension. The former undrafted player has a player option next season. Fans will keep an eye out for a potential signing with the Mavericks.
Dorian Finney-Smith can help the Dallas Mavericks succeed in the short and long term. When the Mavericks played the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of the 2022 Western Conference Finals, Finney-Smith posted 23 points, six rebounds, and two assists in the Mavericks’ 119-109 win over the Warriors to avoid a sweep.
Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes told the general public, “Klay Thompson and Naji Marshall will make up for the free-agency departure of Derrick Jones Jr., but the Dallas Mavericks should still be looking to hoard as many big wings and two-way combo forwards as possible if they want to make a better showing in a hypothetical Finals rematch against the [Boston] Celtics.”
“[Dorian] Finney-Smith established himself as a valuable starter during his six seasons in Dallas, making a fan of Luka Doncic in the process. The Brooklyn Nets probably hope to get a first-rounder for DFS, which might be steep for the Mavs. But hey, we’re dreaming here. [Klay] Thompson might struggle to be his best self consistently at his age and with his injury history…Finney-Smith is durable and showed in Dallas’ 2021-22 Western Conference Finals appearance that he’s dependable in big moments.”
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