Rockets on verge of stealing Lakers star forward with 4-year contract offer

The Houston Rockets saw a chance to damage one of their Western Conference rivals, and they're on the verge of doing so.

Multiple reports indicate that Houston has prepared a four-year contract offer for Dorian Finney-Smith. Finney-Smith most recently played for the Los Angeles Lakers, but he declined his player option to become a free agent.

Finney-Smith opted out of his player option on Sunday, which would've paid him $15.4 million in 2025-26. 

He's likely looking at that annual value or more over a four-year span with the Rockets.

The defensive-minded wing was traded to the Lakers in December from Brooklyn.

In his time in L.A., Finney-Smith had averages of 7.9 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 39.8% from 3-point range.

MORE: LeBron James' decision means Lakers have to solve 1 key need

He certainly could help the Rockets, although Houston already has a glut of wing players.

It's not obvious that Finney-Smith would receive immense playing time with the Rockets, but he'll surely take a big contract from a good team and then compete for his minutes from there.

The Lakers can move forward without Finney-Smith, but it's a bit of a loss. They'll have to look elsewhere for their 3-and-D contributions on the perimeter.

MORE NBA NEWS:

• Thunder cut ties with former 1st-round pick in cruelest trade
• The latest on Bronny James
• Ace Bailey chooses a weird jersey number after Jazz controversy
• Cavs' Lonzo Ball trade is brilliant for 3 reasons
• Jonathan Kuminga wants a lot of money
• Celtics 'laughed' at Raptors' trade offer for Derrick White