The Houston Rockets already made a significant splash by landing Kevin Durant. Now, they’re not slowing down. Just days after pulling off the blockbuster trade, the Rockets are back in the free agency hunt, and this time, they are targeting one of the league’s most reliable 3-and-D veterans.
With smart cap space flexibility and a roster already built to win, the Rockets are positioning themselves to make another serious move that could reshape their starting lineup again.
Rockets Eye Dorian Finney-Smith After He Declines Lakers Option
Veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith is officially on the open market, and the Rockets are wasting no time in trying to land him. According to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, Houston has emerged as a “viable free agent landing spot” for Finney-Smith after he declined his $15.4 million player option with the Lakers for the 2025-26 season.
“The Houston Rockets have emerged as a viable free agent landing spot for Dorian Finney-Smith, league sources tell @TheSteinLine and me, after the veteran declined his $15.4 million player option for 2025-26 with the Lakers today,” Fischer wrote on X.
The Houston Rockets have emerged as a viable free agent landing spot for Dorian Finney-Smith, league sources tell @TheSteinLine and me, after the veteran declined his $15.4 million player option for 2025-26 with the Lakers today.
More NBA from us: https://t.co/uH1l3UTHHR
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 29, 2025
League-wide, Finney-Smith’s reputation as a rugged defender and reliable floor-spacer makes him an ideal piece for playoff teams, and the Rockets seem to agree.
Salary cap analyst Yossi Gozlan provided further clarity on what the Rockets can offer:
“The Rockets can offer Dorian Finney-Smith the full $14.1 million mid-level exception. They can give him more in a sign-and-trade with a combination of Cam Whitmore and Jock Landale outgoing.”
He added that such a move could even benefit the Lakers as they search for a starting center:
“This could open up multi-team scenarios to bring a starting center to the Lakers.”
The Rockets can offer Dorian Finney-Smith the full $14.1 million mid-level exception.
They can give him more in a sign and trade with a combination of Cam Whitmore and Jock Landale outgoing.
This could open up multi-team scenarios to bring a starting center to the Lakers. https://t.co/YSmeJ7YAkT
— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) June 29, 2025
Finney-Smith, 32, joined the Lakers midseason in a December 2024 trade from Brooklyn and proved to be an instant upgrade on the wing. In 63 games, he averaged 8.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while spacing the floor with consistent three-point shooting and locking in defensively on the perimeter.
Adding Finney-Smith to a Rockets lineup that already includes Durant, Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, and Alperen Şengün gives Houston another tough, switchable defender with playoff experience. It also balances the roster, especially alongside Durant, who can now focus more on offense while Finney-Smith takes on challenging assignments on the other end.
Rockets’ Cap Flexibility and Trade Chips Could Push Deal Over the Line
The Rockets have been careful with their cap sheet, and it’s paying off now. The franchise is reportedly re-signing Aaron Holiday, Jae’Sean Tate, and Jeff Green to reduced deals, allowing them to explore mid-level and sign-and-trade options. Besides, the Rockets have access to the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception in free agency, worth $14.1 million.
In addition, they can use Cam Whitmore and Jock Landale as key trade assets. Together, they make about $11.5 million in salary, which could be bundled to bring back a player in the $15+ million range via sign-and-trade. Landale’s contract was set to become guaranteed on June 29, but both sides agreed to delay that decision into July to keep options open.
Landale came to Houston in 2023 after a strong postseason run with the Phoenix Suns, but his role has since shrunk. He averaged just 11.9 minutes per game in the 2024-25 season. A move could benefit both him and the Rockets, especially if it lands Finney-Smith in Houston and a quality center in Los Angeles.
Both Whitmore and Landale could help the Lakers build a deeper bench around Dončić. Meanwhile, Finney-Smith’s potential pairing with Durant and VanVleet in Houston gives the Rockets another high-IQ, low-maintenance veteran who can defend multiple positions and knock down open shots.
