Lakers Expected To Lose Dorian Finney-Smith, Eyeing Center Options

The Los Angeles Lakers are bracing for the likely departure of free agent forward Dorian Finney-Smith, but that exit could help shape their next move.

With Finney-Smith drawing strong interest from the Houston Rockets, the Lakers are preparing to shift their focus to the center market, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic.

Sources tell Woike that Los Angeles has its eyes on several big men, including veteran Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez, Atlanta Hawks big man Clint Capela, and recently bought-out former Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton.

The Lakers will have access to the full $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception and are expected to pursue a short-term deal in order to preserve future cap flexibility, particularly to find another star to pair with Luka Doncic and LeBron James.

Lopez, 36, is viewed as one of the top floor-spacing centers available. He connected on 37.3% of his three-point attempts last season while averaging 13.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 80 games for Milwaukee. He played for the Lakers in 2017-18 and has been linked to a potential return multiple times since.

Capela, 31, would offer more rim protection and rebounding. His numbers dipped across the board in 2024-25 as his role in Atlanta declined to just over 21 minutes per game, but he’s still a strong interior presence with playoff experience.

Ayton, 26, is recovering from a calf strain that limited him to 34 games this past season. He reached a buyout with Portland on Sunday and will need to clear waivers before signing elsewhere.

Meanwhile, despite some speculation, the Lakers are not exploring trade options for Austin Reaves, per Woike. The 26-year-old reportedly turned down a four-year, $89 million extension offer, but the front office still views him as a key piece of its future and plans to revisit a deal next offseason.

As for Finney-Smith, The Stein Line’s Marc Stein reiterates that the Rockets are preparing to offer the 32-year-old a four-year deal using a significant portion of their mid-level exception.