The Lakers trade rumors keep coming. With the team reportedly linked to the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks for their respective star players, multiple insiders have projected the Lakers’ biggest needs ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline.
Adrian Wojnarokwski wrote that “Speed and athleticism are certainly a priority” for the purple and gold, while The Athletic’s Jovan Buha mentioned that a lack of 3-and-D wings have been their “biggest issue”:
“They haven’t been able to replace that since the Russ trade, with KCP, Kuz, Danny Green—even Alex Caruso as more of a three-and-D guard. They just haven’t had those types of guys consistently.”
Luckily for the Lakers, there are two forwards from the Brooklyn Nets that could satisfy that need while serving as upgrades to the rotation.
NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers Could Pursue Two Nets Forwards
Lakers Interested in Royce O’Neale and Dorian Finney-Smith
On a recent appearance on Jason Timpf’s “Hoops Tonight” podcast, Timpf and Buha discussed the need for the Lakers to make a trade, whether it was a marginal improvement or a major shake-up. Both agreed that the former was the way to go. Buha added that the Lakers have eyed—and could once again pursue—Nets forwards Royce O’Neale and Dorian Finney-Smith:
“Those are two guys the Lakers have had interest in dating back to last offseason and even last trade deadline. I know that those are two guys they’d have interest in bringing in.”
The duo has played well in minutes they’ve shared together. This season, they’ve averaged 35.9 points on 43% shooting from the field and 38% from three. Looking further, though, both of them provide similar strengths for the Lakers—shooting, defense, and versatility—that would help LA’s lineups immensely.
Royce O’Neale
O’Neale has fluctuated between starter and backup throughout his six-year career. In 29 games with Brooklyn (5 starts), he’s averaging 7.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists on .392/.393/.625 splits. Just as he’s versatile offensively, O’Neale is also as a multi-positional defender. He has locked up guards, wings and power forwards with a career defensive rating of 110. O’Neale is collecting 0.8 steals and 0.8 blocks per game this season. He’s also 7th on the Nets in defensive rating (116).
O’Neale has also been valuable in the playoffs. In 44 games over six years, he averaged eight points per game (.447/.372/.711 splits), 5.2 rebounds, two assists and 0.9 steals.
It makes sense that the Lakers have been linked to O’Neale as a two-way wing. At 6-foot-4 and 226 pounds, his size, marksmanship and physicality could be perfect for them. The purple and gold have struggled with wing depth and questionable rotations throughout the season, and O’Neale could alleviate those issues immediately.
Dorian Finney-Smith
Despite being sidelined with a knee injury, Finney-Smith has produced well in multiple roles. In 28 games (17 starts), DFS is averaging 10.5 points on 47% shooting from the field, 45% from three (career-high) and 80% from the line. He makes the third-highest threes per game on the Nets (2.5) while attempting the seventh-most triples (5.5). Like O’Neale, Finney-Smith is also a respectable defender. He’s put up 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks per game with a defensive rating of 119.
Adding to his case, Finney-Smith is having one of the best shooting seasons of his career. He boasts an effective field goal percentage of 61%, and he knocks down nearly 46% of his spot-up attempts. Both are encouraging signs for the Lakers, who have had trouble consistently finding the bottom of the net this season. DFS would be a major boost to LA’s offense while adding to their defense with his agility and seven-foot wingspan. Finney-Smith is also a proven playoff performer. In 35 postseason games, he’s averaged 10.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and one steal on .391/.412/.735 splits.
Overall, Finney-Smith’s ability to succeed as a combo forward while guarding multiple positions makes him another great option for Rob Pelinka.
What a Lakers-Nets Trade Could Look Like
It’s clear that both of these players would work well on the Lakers, but now comes the question of what it would take to get them. Finney-Smith is making $13.9 million this season and is under contract until 2026 (including a 2025 Player Option). O’Neale, on the other hand, is making $9.5 million and in the final year of a four-year, $36 million extension.
To match the combined $23.4 million in salaries, the Lakers would have to include a package of Gabe Vincent (once he’s closer to returning), Taurean Prince and Jalen-Hood Schifino with draft compensation. They could also acquire one of O’Neale or Finney-Smith with a smaller but similar offer (e.g. Prince, JHS and picks).
The Last Word
The Lakers’ interest towards O’Neale and Finney-Smith is warranted, and it’s a notable departure from their chase for a third star. They have some assets that could bring a deal to fruition, but they must maximize smaller salaries to get it done.
