Lakers Star Has Surprise Ankle Surgery

Los Angeles' upside with Doncic and 40-year-old LeBron James installed at the helm of the franchise is now astronomical, but it became painfully clear in the playoffs that the club's current roster isn't good enough to get it done. The Lakers were defeated in five quick games by the lower-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves.

Now, one of the Lakers' key two-way talents has gone under the knife.

Dave McMenamin of ESPN reports that 3-and-D Los Angeles forward Dorian Finney-Smith, a key midseason trade addition from the Brooklyn Nets who helped bolster his team's perimeter and post protection, had successful surgery on his left ankle to treat a long-term ailment.

Per McMenamin, Los Angeles anticipates that the 6-foot-7 vet will be able to partake in training camp activities with the team.

Finney-Smith, 32, has a $15.4 million player option on his contract for the 2025-26 season. This surgery could impede his options on the free agent market, hypothetically, and may suggest that a Lakers return is on the table.

The versatile combo forward averaged 7.9 points on .442/.398/.714 shooting splits, 3.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.9 steals during his 40 healthy regular season bouts for the Lakers. He became one of head coach JJ Redick's most trusted pieces in the playoffs, averaging 34.0 minutes a night. Finney-Smith was occasionally tasked with playing as a very undersized small-ball center in the postseason, which against four-time Defensive Player of the Year Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert was woefully inadequate.