Lakers Predicted to Retain Services of Key Player Amid Big Summer

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated Jun 19, 2025 1:16 PM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers won 50 games this season under first-year head coach JJ Redick. The team was the third seed in the Western Conference and many fans and pundits projected the Lakers to compete for the championship with Luka Doncic and LeBron James leading the way.

However, Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Lakers in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in five games.

In the second half of Game 4, Redick played only Doncic, James, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Dorian Finney-Smith. In Game 5, Redick didn't play Jaxson Hayes at all.

The Lakers are expected to attempt to acquire a center this offseason, but they also have some things to take care of in-house.

Doncic, Reaves and Finney-Smith can sign extensions this offseason. Finney-Smith has a player option worth $15.4 million for next season, while Doncic and Reaves are under contract for 2025-26.

Finney-Smith has until June 29 to opt out of the final year of his contract. The forward is extension-eligible before free agency begins on June 30 and Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report thinks Los Angeles will keep Doncic's former Dallas Mavericks teammate.

"Given his relationship with Doncic, he's got a home with the Lakers," Pincus wrote. "The question may be about finances. Finney-Smith can opt out for a longer deal. No other team will likely have more than the NTMLE for him; perhaps a slight pay dip in year one for a long-term contract is the compromise.

"Prediction: Lakers keep Finney-Smith for as long as they keep Doncic, in the $12-16 million starting range, lower if it's a longer deal."

Finney-Smith appeared in 43 games with the Lakers. He averaged 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 44.2% from the field, 39.8% from beyond the arc and 71.4% from the free-throw line.

The Lakers went 29-14 when Finney-Smith played.

Finney-Smith has played for the Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets and Lakers. He has career averages of 8.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 591 NBA games.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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