Latest news with #DorianFinney-Smith
USA Today
10 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
In 2025 offseason grades, ESPN ranks Houston among NBA's two best
'No team did more to improve its chances at the 2026 title than the Rockets,' ESPN's Kevin Pelton says in his 2025 NBA offseason grades. Between the additions of established veterans including Kevin Durant, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Clint Capela, the NBA's 2025 offseason has been a good one for fans of the Houston Rockets. For a team that was already starting from a relatively high perch at No. 2 in last season's Western Conference standings (with a 52-30 record), there's a case to be made that Houston has elevated itself into the top tier of 2025-26 championship contenders. And it seems that others around the league agree. In ESPN's offseason grades, Houston is one of only two teams to receive an 'A' grade, joining the Atlanta Hawks. Regarding the Rockets, ESPN's Kevin Pelton writes: No team did more to improve its chances at the 2026 title than the Rockets, who added two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant without sacrificing depth in the process. Give Houston credit for pouncing at a reasonable trade for Durant, then using a team-friendly contract for Fred VanVleet (two years, $50 million) to access the non-taxpayer midlevel exception. That allowed the Rockets to add proven 3-and-D wing Dorian Finney-Smith to help replace departed Dillon Brooks. Houston is the only Western Conference team to earn Pelton's 'A' grade. More: In signing with Rockets, Dorian Finney-Smith sees 'great team' with a chance to be special
USA Today
22-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
In signing with Rockets, Dorian Finney-Smith sees ‘great team' with a chance to be special
'I think we've got a great team, and I think we can do something special,' Dorian Finney-Smith says of his choice to join the Rockets in free agency. Houston Rockets forward Dorian Finney-Smith returned to his hometown of Portsmouth, Virginia, last weekend to give back to the community. It was the Finney Family First Foundation's ninth annual free basketball camp and softball tournament, per WAVY-TV, the regional NBC affiliate. In an extended interview with the station, the 32-year-old spoke to a local reporter regarding both his community initiatives and NBA topics, headlined by his new deal with the Rockets. Houston finished at 52-30 and No. 2 in the Western Conference last season, and expectations are even higher after its offseason trade for All-Star forward Kevin Durant. Because the Rockets were able to supplement that acquisition with the signing of quality veteran free agents, such as Finney-Smith and Clint Capela, optimism continues to build. 'I think we've got a great team, and I think we can do something special,' said Finney-Smith, who is widely known around the NBA for his combination of versatile defense and reliable 3-point shooting (41.1% last season). 'I already know who they are. They play hard. Coach Ime (Udoka) is one of the toughest coaches in the league. I've never seen him smile much when you're playing against him. The first time I've ever seen him smile was when we had dinner, like two weeks ago. I like that, because I'm a competitor.' After being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers midway through last season, Finney-Smith said he entered the offseason expecting to stick around. But the right deal was apparently in Houston, and Lakers star Luka Doncic — who Finney-Smith also played alongside for several seasons with the Mavericks — was understanding of the decision. 'He cares,' Finney-Smith said of Doncic. 'When I went to the Rockets, he shot me a text saying, 'I'm happy for you. I'm proud of you. I know you're excited to be back with your kids and family.'' Finney-Smith's family still lives in Dallas after his time with the Mavs, and the ability to sign with another Texas team in relatively close proximity likely worked to Houston's benefit during the negotiations. 'Closer to the family, and an easier transition,' said Finney-Smith, whose deal with the Rockets is worth at least $26 million over two seasons (it can be for as many as four years and $53 million). As for what's next, Finney-Smith said he plans to be present when his children return to school in early August, and then it will be time to prepare for his next NBA chapter in Houston. 'We've got a mini-camp in September, so I'll probably be in Houston in two weeks, trying to look for a place,' Finney-Smith told WAVY-TV. The complete interview, which runs for almost 30 minutes, can be viewed here. More: Rockets announce signing of veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith
USA Today
08-07-2025
- Business
- USA Today
With unique contract structures, Rockets working to mitigate 2027-28 financial crunch
As details for the new Dorian Finney-Smith and Jabari Smith Jr. contracts come in, it's clear the Rockets have 2027-28 payroll considerations in mind. As they navigate various luxury-tax and apron thresholds under the NBA's latest Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the Houston Rockets are bracing for an expensive payroll in the 2027-28 season. That future season is particularly tricky for the Rockets, since it's likely to be the first year of a maximum-salaried contract extension for Amen Thompson and the final season of a seemingly inevitable two-year extension for Kevin Durant. So, led by general manager Rafael Stone and assistant general manager Eli Witus, Houston is already making preparations — and that's increasingly evident based on the contract structures of the team's recent deals in the 2025 offseason. HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported Monday that both of the final two seasons of Dorian Finney-Smith's four-year contract with the Rockets are non-guaranteed, starting with the aforementioned 2027-28 season. And the five-year extension for Jabari Smith Jr., per Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic, contains an even more curious structure to prioritize 2027-28 flexibility. Vorkunov writes: That five-year rookie extension they gave Smith is a rollercoaster deal (my patent pending). It starts at $23.64 million in the first year, then dips to $21.75 million in year two before escalating back up to $23.64 million in year 3 and continuing on the upswing to $27.43 million in the final year. That comes after the Rockets signed Dorian Finney-Smith to what HoopsHype reported is a four-year deal with only the first two years fully guaranteed. The dip in Smith's second season, 2027-28, should help the Rockets because it will be the second season of Kevin Durant's potential new contract and the first year of Amen Thompson's rookie extension. Every dollar will count for Houston that season as they likely navigate an apron of some sort, let alone the luxury-tax implications. But the Rockets have a smart front office and thought ahead. As for the 2028 offseason and beyond, Durant turns 39 years old that September. So, the odds would suggest that he's likely to either retire or be on a downward career trajectory by that time, which would lead to the future Hall of Famer either coming off Houston's salary books entirely or playing at a much-reduced rate. In turn, that would alleviate much of the financial pressure on the total payroll, which explains why the 2028-29 season is when Smith's deal starts to go back up. And if Durant somehow defies the usual aging curve and is still producing at an All-Star level at 39 years old, that's a good problem to have — and one the Rockets are happy to worry about in 2028, should it occur. For now, they're doing their financial planning based on more realistic scenarios. More: Shams: Rockets, Kevin Durant plan to end his NBA career in Houston
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Rockets announce signing of veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith
With the NBA's moratorium on 2025-26 transactions now over, the Rockets are finalizing several new deals, including the Dorian Finney-Smith signing. OFFICIAL: Welcome to Houston, Dorian Finney-Smith 🚀📝: Shortly after the NBA processed Houston's trade agreements involving the likes of Kevin Durant, Clint Capela, and Cam Whitmore, the league office also approved the signing of veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith in 2025 free agency. The Rockets announced the deal on Monday morning. Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, though the deal is reportedly for four years and $53 million, with the final season non-guaranteed. A versatile 6-foot-7 forward with a reputation for strong defense, Finney-Smith averaged 8.7 points (career-best 41.1% on 3-pointers) and 3.9 rebounds in 28.9 minutes per game last season. The 32-year-old played with the Lakers and Brooklyn Nets, and his departure from Los Angeles could perhaps weaken one of Houston's chief Western Conference rivals. Additional information from the team's announcement includes: Finney-Smith joins Robert Covington and Wesley Matthews as the only undrafted players in NBA history with career totals of at least 4,500 points, 2,500 rebounds, 450 steals, and 900 3-pointers made. Finney-Smith was one of eight players with 50-plus games played in 2024-25 to have defended an average of at least 11.0 shot attempts while playing fewer than 30.0 minutes per game. During the Mavericks' run to the Western Conference finals in 2022, Smith started all 18 games while averaging 11.7 points,, 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 made 3-pointers per game (42.6%). He had a combined defensive field goal percentage of 39.1% over his past two postseasons (2023 with Brooklyn and 2025 with the Lakers). With the 2025-26 Rockets, Finney-Smith is expected to play in a bench unit also featuring the likes of Tari Eason, Steven Adams, and Reed Sheppard. Those four will be the primary reserves backing up a starting lineup comprised of Fred VanVleet, Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun. Houston is coming off a season with a 52-30 record and the No. 2 record in the Western Conference, and the team's hope is that adding the likes of Durant, Finney-Smith, and Clint Capela to a young and improving roster can help lift the Rockets to true championship contention in 2025-26. More: Rockets signing veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith to four-year, $53-million deal
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lakers Forward Among 3 Key Rockets' Targets for Start of 2025 NBA Free Agency
Lakers Forward Among 3 Key Rockets' Targets for Start of 2025 NBA Free Agency originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Houston Rockets have been one of the most active teams at the start of the 2025 offseason. They secured the deal of the summer by acquiring Kevin Durant. In addition, the team already re-signed free agents Jabari Smith Jr., Steven Adams and Jea'Sean Tate to secure what looks to be a competitive roster. Advertisement While the Rockets lost Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, the addition of Durant to address their scoring woes bodes well for a team with an established defensive identity. Despite making several moves already, the Rockets aim to be early movers when the NBA's Free Agency window opens at 6 p.m. Monday. The Athletic's Kelly Iko reported that the Rockets hope to secure meetings with free agents Dorian Finney-Smith, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard. "The Rockets are working quickly to secure meetings with Dorian Finney-Smith, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard at the outset of free agency, team sources tell The Athletic," Iko tweeted on Monday. Finney-Smith is expected to be an in-demand name after declining his $15.9 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers, who acquired him in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets last season. He averaged 8.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game last season and is partly responsible for the Lakers finishing as the No. 3 seed in the West. Los Angeles Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith (17) in action against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Blewett-Imagn Images Alexander-Walker played a key role for the Minnesota Timberwolves in their back-to-back Western Conference finals appearances. He averaged 9.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game last season, but is expected to leave after the Wolves spent big to retain Naz Reid and Julius Randle. Advertisement Kennard averaged 8.9 points per game on 43.3% from 3 for the Memphis Grizzlies last season. He's a renowned shooter and could be an interesting rotational piece on a team like Houston, which lacks elite shooters. If the Rockets land Finney-Smith, they'll be considered among the top contenders in the West, given how well Finney-Smith fits into their team's defensive ethos. He also fills their requirement for a spacer, shooting 41.1% from 3 last season. If they seal this signing, they likely wrap their offseason early and greatly improve their chances of winning a title next season. Related: Concerning Update on LeBron James' Future With Lakers Shared on Sunday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
