Shams Charania of ESPN is reporting that the Houston Rockets have agreed to sign former Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith, to a four-year $53 million dollar contract. This move immediately fills the void of Dillon Brooks offensively and more importantly on the defensive end. Finney-Smith played 43 games or 1,239 minutes with the Lakers, and in those minutes the team boasted a +11.1 net rating, the best among all rotation players in that span.
Rockets still cooking, sign Dorian Finney-Smith to a four-year deal
Are we allowed to say Shams-Bomb?
He averaged 8.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in the entirety of the season. He shot 44.8 percent from the field, including 41.1 percent from the three-point line. At 6ft-7in Finney-Smith is a very versatile defender who will allow the Rockets to switch in their pick-and-roll defense, since he is able to guard all five positions.
Rumors of mutual interest between Finney-Smith and the Rockets began to swirl immediately following his declining of his player option to stay with the Lakers. Undoubtedly, the chance to play with Kevin Durant and Houston’s talented young nucleus and compete for an NBA championship is what drew Finney-Smith to the Rockets. Likewise, the Rockets were in search of a 3-and-D player who would add to their wing depth and bring the grit and defensive toughness that Ime Udoka demands from his players, and they found it in Finney-Smith, without having to break the bank or give up more assets.
With the resigning of Jae’Sean Tate, Aaron Holiday, and Steven Adams, in combination with the growth and development of Tari Eason, and for the moment the presence of Cam Whitmore and Reed Sheppard on the roster, not to mention the most recent addition of Clint Capela, it’s despite losing two key starters from a 52-win team in the trade for Kevin Durant, that the Houston Rockets actually just got deeper.
Speculation has already begun as the Rockets remain in even more trade rumors from people who cover hoops that believe the Rockets may be positioning themselves to make even bigger waves this offseason. I know that my fellow TDS faithful will be watching with weighted breath as the summer is just heating up.
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