Confirmed deal : Sources Lakers trade plans after D’Angelo Russell-Dorian Finney-Smith deal

 

After months of talks, negotiations and a late race to the finish line, the Los Angeles Lakers finally traded for Dorian Finney-Smith. It cost them D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three unprotected second-round picks, but Rob Pelinka finally landed the two-way wing who has alluded him for multiple transaction windows.

 

The natural question after such a move, which didn’t involve any of the first-round draft capital Pelinka has maintained they’re open to moving, is: What’s next?

 

First and foremost, according to sources close to the team, the Lakers are going to analyze this version of the roster to try to figure out what it needs beyond this move. There is some concern about Jarred Vanderbilt’s availability moving forward potentially for the rest of the season. So, the hope is Finney-Smith can step into that role and the Lakers can get a clearer picture of what this team is capable of before the February trade deadline.

If Vanderbilt’s absence continues to roll on but the team continues to compete for a top seed, belief around the league is that the Lakers will continue to pursue a solid, available wing to continue this movement back to the long, athletic switchable identity that won the 2019-20 championship.

 

JJ Redick said after practice Monday that he plans to stick with Max Christie and Rui Hachimura as the team’s starting wings, but he will continue to monitor how that group looks with Finney-Smith during stretches of the game, too. Sources say Redick pushed hard for Finney-Smith and the belief is he’ll lean on “Doe Doe’s” defense in key moments — especially if Finney-Smith continues to shoot at anywhere near the rate he has this season with the Brooklyn Nets (43.5% on 5.4 threes per game).

 

Elsewhere in the depth chart, with Russell now back in Brooklyn, the Lakers are going to keep a close eye on the offense.

Gabe Vincent has mostly been a disappointing signing, but has played much better recently (before straining his oblique against the Sacramento Kings Saturday night). The Lakers are going to closely monitor the bench offense with him at the helm and, if he struggles, might look to bring in a guard to better manage those minutes. If Vincent is moved in a trade for a different need, look for the Lakers to push for a veteran guard to replace his and Russell’s production off the bench