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The Lakers will trade D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second-round picks to the Nets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
Finney-Smith is one of the most sought-after three-and-D players on this year’s market and will bring versatility to a team that has been looking to improve its defense. He’s having one of the best shooting seasons of his career, connecting at 45.9% from the floor and 43.5% from three-point range while averaging 10.4 points and 4.6 rebounds in 20 games.
The 31-year-old forward is earning $14.9M this season and has a $15.4M player option for 2025-26 that he may be more likely to exercise if he’s part of a contending team in L.A. He could also decline the option and sign a longer deal with the Lakers.
Milton is signed through 2026-27, but only this season is guaranteed at $2.875M. His salaries of $3M for next season and $3.3M for the following year won’t become fully guaranteed until the summer before each season.
Russell has an $18.7M expiring contract, along with $700K in unlikely bonuses that will count toward the apron, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN. Lewis is making $1.9M this year and has a $100K guarantee on his $2.2M salary for 2025-26.
Russell spent time with Brooklyn early in his career and reportedly didn’t part on great terms when he was traded to Golden State in 2019. He should be viewed as a potential buyout candidate, according to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.
The Lakers were able to save some money in the deal and give themselves more flexibility under the second apron, Marks adds. They are currently within $30K of the second apron, but that number will rise to about $3.5M once the deal is finalized. It cost them three of the four second-round picks they had available to trade, but they still have first-rounders in 2027, 2029 and 2030 to offer in any future deals.
The Nets continue their rebuilding process after sending Dennis Schroder to Golden State two weeks ago. They now project to have $65M in cap space this summer, according to Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype, which gives them more ammunition to pursue high-level free agents and still re-sign Cam Thomas. Their cap room had been projected at around $50M due to Finney-Smith’s player option.
Brooklyn will have 16 second-round picks and 15 first-rounders over the next seven years, Gozlan adds, giving it more draft equity than any other team. Taking on the extra salary leaves the Nets about $677 below the luxury tax for this season.
A report Saturday night from Mark Stein indicated that the Nets and Grizzlies were actively involved in discussions that would send Finney-Smith to Memphis in exchange for a package centered around John Konchar and Luke Kennard. Stein states that the Lakers were able to top that offer by giving Brooklyn three second-round picks.
More must-reads:
- Report reveals whether D’Angelo Russell will be bought out by Nets after trade
- JJ Redick Is Big Dorian Finney-Smith Fan
- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
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Warriors and Lakers call about Derrick White, Celtics respond fast with demand for ‘Rudy Gobert package’
Derrick White and Jaylen Brown have become hot topics this offseason following significant changes to the Boston Celtics roster. The Boston Celtics entered rebuild mode after Jayson Tatum suffered a serious injury that will sideline him for the entire season. The Celtics responded by trading key players Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis during free agency. These moves sparked rumors that Boston would consider trading Derrick White and Jaylen Brown as well. Multiple teams inquired about both players’ availability throughout the summer. White particularly attracted interest from contending franchises seeking backcourt upgrades. Three top teams, including Warriors and Lakers, pursue White trade aggressively NBA insider Brett Siegel revealed that more teams called about White than Brown, with Western Conference contenders leading the pursuit of the veteran guard. Siegel identified the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Golden State Warriors as the primary suitors for White. All three franchises made formal inquiries about potential trade scenarios. “There just wasn’t really anything brewing on that front. You had multiple teams calling about Brown, even more teams calling about Derrick White, especially in the Western Conference,” Siegel reported. “You can look up and down the list from teams like the Rockets, Warriors. I’m sure the Lakers probably made a call there. They’re always involved in those trade talks. But I do know that the Warriors and the Rockets were two teams that inquired about Derrick White and put out feelers to see what it would take to get him,” Siegel added. Celtics instantly reject multiple first-round pick offers Boston immediately turned down initial proposals despite multiple first-round picks being included in the packages. The Celtics established an extremely high compensation threshold for any potential White trade. The organization views White as untouchable alongside Brown, despite their willingness to consider massive offers. Only historic trade packages would change their position. “And the Celtics did have an offer on the table that involved multiple first round picks. They did not want to trade Derrick White. He’s a player that they viewed as untouchable just like Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum,” Siegel explained. Boston’s resistance reflects their valuation of White as a crucial piece rather than expendable asset during their roster transition. Celtics demand Rudy Gobert-level compensation package Siegel compared Boston’s asking price to the massive package Utah received for Rudy Gobert from Minnesota. The Celtics would only consider deals matching that historic precedent. “Again, untouchable in quotes because if you get a package like a Rudy Gobert type package that the Utah Jazz got a few years ago when you’re getting pretty much every team’s round pick and a young talent to build with, something that you have to consider,” Siegel added. The Gobert trade included Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Leandro Bolmaro, Walker Kessler, Jarred Vanderbilt, four first-round picks, and one pick swap. The massive haul set unprecedented standards for star player compensation, even for a player like Gobert—who recently criticized by NBA legend Shaquille O‘Neil. Interested teams lack sufficient trade assets The Warriors, Lakers, and Rockets likely cannot assemble packages matching Boston’s Gobert-level demands. Golden State possesses limited draft capital and aging roster assets. The Lakers face similar constraints with minimal young talent and protected future picks. Houston maintains more flexibility but already constructed a balanced roster for next season. The gap between Boston’s asking price and available offers ensures White remains with the Celtics during their rebuild. The franchise’s historic compensation demands effectively remove him from realistic trade discussions despite widespread interest from contending teams.
Browns make curious decision with rookie QB Shedeur Sanders
The Cleveland Browns are giving Shedeur Sanders special treatment in training camp, but it's not the type of favoritism the fifth-round pick would necessarily want. Per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, Sanders is the only Browns quarterback who has not been taking reps with the first-team offense during OTAs or the first two practices of training camp. Former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Kenny Pickett, veteran Joe Flacco and rookie Dillon Gabriel have all split reps with the first team. Despite being asked to throw passes to members of the equipment staff amid a shortage of professional pass-catchers for a four-quarterback roster, Sanders said he's thankful for the opportunity to show the Browns coaching staff his talents. "I feel like that it's not in my control, so I'm not going to think about that or even have that in my thought process of why it is," Sanders said to a question as to why he's not getting first-team reps. "There's a lot of people who want to have the opportunity to be at this level, and I'm here and I'm thankful to have the opportunity. So, whenever that is, that is." Sanders, 23, believes that he can contribute more to the Browns than what the coaching staff is asking of him. "It doesn't make me feel down or left out because I know who I am as a person," Sanders said. "I know who I am as an individual and I know what I could bring to this team. So, I can never feel less than any circumstance." The Browns selected Sanders with the No. 144 pick in April's draft. As a player whom many draft analysts thought was a first-round talent, Cleveland took what could be the steal of the draft in the fifth round. It's curious why the Browns aren't giving Sanders a shot with the first team early in training camp before the quarterback race becomes more serious. Cleveland should see what Sanders has to offer this summer. Flacco, 40, isn't a long-term solution at the position. Pickett failed in Pittsburgh. The Browns need to gauge what rookies Gabriel and Sanders can do with the first team. Having Sanders throw balls to the equipment staff is a waste of everyone's time. But then again, Cleveland has wasted plenty of quarterbacks.
Mets Make Mark Vientos Decision After Luis Robert Jr. Trade Report
Right-handed slugger Mark Vientos is in his fourth season with the New York Mets after making his debut in 2022. The 24-year-old emerged as a rising star for New York last year, playing 111 games and posting career highs with a .266 batting average and an .837 OPS. He also elevated his performance in the 2024 postseason, batting .327 with 18 hits, five home runs, 14 RBIs and eight runs scored in 13 games, leading the Mets to an NLCS appearance. Vientos recently recovered from a right hamstring strain that sidelined him for a few weeks in June, but since then he has really struggled to return to form and regain his production at the plate. Ahead of Sunday’s series finale against the San Francisco Giants, the Mets decided to bench Vientos (the second time in the last three games). The decision to leave him out of the lineup came after Bob Nightengale reported that the Chicago White Sox require Vientos to be involved in any trade for center fielder Luis Robert Jr. Mets general manager David Stearns recently said the Mets will be “engaged” when it comes to possibly adding a center fielder, so addressing that outfield need and Vientos losing playing time may push the organization to part ways with him. In 2025, Vientos is hitting .226 with a .638 OPS, six home runs and 27 RBIs, a steep drop-off in production after his breakout year. He will remain under team control for five more seasons after 2025 and will not hit free agency until 2030.
Important trade stalls as Maple Leafs dangle bottom-six forward
The Toronto Maple Leafs are still looking for a solution to their bottom-six surplus, and veteran forward Calle Jarnkrok remains at the center of trade discussions. However, according to The Fourth Period, trade talks surrounding the 33-year-old winger have failed to gain momentum. They write: “He has a $2.1M cap hit and owns a 10-team no-trade list. The market hasn’t been vibrant, to this point, but the Leafs will continue to dangle him.” Why can’t the Maple Leafs find a taker for Jarnkrok? Jarnkrok has quietly been on the trade block for much of the offseason, but general manager Brad Treliving has yet to find a taker. After adding several depth forwards this summer, the Leafs now face a crowded bottom six — and Jarnkrok’s age, injury history and $2.1M cap hit through 2025–26 aren’t helping his value. Since joining Toronto, Jarnkrok has appeared in only 71 games over two seasons, scoring a modest 28 points. While his defensive versatility and penalty-killing ability are assets, his declining offensive production and durability concerns have made teams wary. With training camp approaching, the Maple Leafs may be forced to keep Jarnkrok on the roster — or retain salary in a deal — if they want to create space and flexibility. Dropping his cap hit down to just over $1M would open up the market a little. Until then, the Swedish forward remains a trade candidate in limbo. This isn’t great news as moving Jarnkrok from the roster is an important item on the team’s to-do list. Treliving would like more cap space, and with Jarnkrok and David Kampf both still on the roster, it hampers the GM’s ability to do other things.
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