Lakers 2024-25 Player Grades: Dorian Finney-Smith
The Trade That Shifted Everything
On December 29th, 2024, Dorian Finney-Smith was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. A much-needed move that factored into catapulting the Lakers’ defensive and offensive capabilities. He didn’t arrive as a star. He didn’t need to. What he brought was exactly what this team was starving for—versatility, stability, and identity.
And then, not long after? Luka Dončić—his best friend—followed, as part of a monumental trade that sent Anthony Davis out. But don’t get it twisted—Finney-Smith was the first domino.
“I told him shoot more” 🤣
Luka to @LaurenJbara on Dorian Finney-Smith going 6-11 from three 🤝 pic.twitter.com/aRRoeQNfQB
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 1, 2025
Rotation Gold for Redick
For head coach J.J. Redick, Finney-Smith became a rotation cheat code. Playing the 3-4, guarding 1-4 comfortably, and even at times altering centers—he gave the Lakers options they hadn’t had in years. You could feel the difference instantly.
He’s the kind of guy you can throw into any lineup combination, and the numbers prove it.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
In his first 20 games with the Lakers, Finney-Smith posted a mind-blowing +163 plus-minus. That’s an average of +8.2 per game. For context? The only Laker remotely close was Luka Dončić, who had a +7.3—in just four games.
You can’t fake that kind of impact.
Elite Defensive Versatility
Per @The_BBall_Index, Finney-Smith ranked #1 in the NBA among rotation players in defensive positional versatility. He’s one of the very few players in the league who can’t be switch-hunted. Try to expose him, and you’ll find your offense in a blender instead.
The Lakers’ defensive rating with DFS: 114.4
Without him: 116.8
He didn’t just make us better—he made us whole.
The Blueprint for the Future
Right now, he’s the anchor of our defense. But it can’t stop there. Looking forward to future roster construction, the goal has to be surrounding Finney-Smith with similar archetypes—switchable, defensive-minded wings who keep the floor spaced and the perimeter locked down. You build a flexible roster by starting with a flexible player. That’s him.
The Option That Could Shift Everything… Again
Finney-Smith holds a player option worth just under $15.4 million. He has as little as 24 hours after the NBA Finals, and as late as June 30th, to accept it.
Let’s be honest—if he doesn’t return as a Laker? The front office will be in shambles. Luka loses his best friend. And we lose arguably our best defender and most versatile role player. You can’t replace that overnight.
Final Grade: A-
The only thing keeping this from a straight A+ is the limited sample size. But make no mistake—Dorian Finney-Smith was a game-changer. And if we’re serious about contending in the Luka era, locking him in has to be priority number one.
