3:33pm: The trade is official, according to press releases from both clubs.
11:20am: The Lakers will trade D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second-round picks to the Nets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
The second-rounders heading to Brooklyn will be Los Angeles’ own selections in 2027, 2030 and 2031, sources tell Charania. The ’27 pick being conveyed to Brooklyn is contingent on the ’27 first-round pick (top-four protected) L.A. owes Utah, notes Bobby Marks of ESPN (Twitter link), as the Lakers will send the Jazz their ’27 second-round pick if the ’27 first-rounder lands in the top four.
Finney-Smith had been one of the most sought-after three-and-D players on this year’s market and will bring versatility to a team that has been looking to improve its defense. He’s having one of the best shooting seasons of his career, connecting at 45.9% from the floor and 43.5% from three-point range while averaging 10.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per night through 20 games.
The 31-year-old forward is earning $14.9MM this season and has a $15.4MM player option for 2025/26 that he may be more likely to exercise if he’s part of a contending team in L.A. He could also decline the option in order to sign a longer-term deal with the Lakers or to test the free agent market.
Milton is signed through 2026/27, but only this season is guaranteed at $2.875MM. His salaries of $3MM for next season and $3.3MM for the following year won’t become fully guaranteed until the summer before each season.
Russell has an $18.7MM expiring contract, along with $700K in unlikely bonuses that will count toward the apron, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN (Twitter link). Lewis is making $1.9MM this year and has a $100K guarantee on his $2.2MM salary for 2025/26.
Russell spent time with Brooklyn early in his career and reportedly didn’t part on great terms when he was traded to Golden State in 2019. While he may be a buyout candidate, Russell’s $18MM+ salary would make him ineligible to join any team operating above either tax apron if he’s waived.
The Lakers were able to save some money in the deal and give themselves more flexibility under the second apron, Marks adds (Twitter links). They are currently within $30K of the second apron, but that number will rise to about $3.5MM once the deal is finalized and their projected tax bill will drop by about $11MM. Because they won’t have to aggregate their two outgoing salaries, the Lakers also still won’t be hard-capped at the second apron.
The trade will cost the Lakers three of the five second-round picks they had available to move, but they still have a pair of 2025 second-rounders, first-rounders in 2029 and 2031, and first-round pick swaps in 2026, 2028, and 2030 to offer in any future deals.
The Nets will continue their rebuilding process after sending Dennis Schröder to Golden State two weeks ago. They now project to have $65MM in cap space this summer, according to cap expert Yossi Gozlan (Twitter link), which gives them more ammunition to pursue high-level free agents and still re-sign Cam Thomas. Their cap room had previously been projected at around $50MM due to Finney-Smith’s player option.
Brooklyn will have 16 second-round picks and 15 first-rounders over the next seven years, Gozlan adds (Twitter link), giving them more draft equity than any other team. Taking on the extra salary leaves the Nets about $677K below the luxury tax for this season.
A report on Saturday night from Marc Stein indicated that the Nets and Grizzlies were actively involved in discussions that would send Finney-Smith to Memphis in exchange for a package centered around John Konchar and Luke Kennard.
The Grizzlies may have been willing to part with a first-round pick for Finney-Smith, but reportedly wanted to heavily protect that selection and sought second-round compensation in return. Stein states that the Lakers were able to top that offer by giving Brooklyn three second-round picks (Twitter link).
First thought is 3 2nd round picks seems like a lot.
2nd rd picks are mostly worthless
If you are a team that sucks at scouting and developing players, sure. Plenty of NBA teams have been able to extract big value with “throw away” 2nd rounders. The Nets have done a good job finding talent in round 2 under Marks.
Correct. It’s unlikely to find stars in the second round, although not completely impossible (Jokic), but you can always find good role players in the second round. Just look at the last ten drafts. Some really good players drafted late.
The current OKC team has multiple second rounders or undrafted players in big to solid rotation roles (Hartenstein, Caruso, Dort, Joe, Jaylin Williams, Kenrich Williams, Wiggins). Not all drafted by them, but still.
If the 2025 draft is really as deep as many people say, the #35 pick in that draft will be worth more than lets say the #20 pick in 2024.
You might want to look up 2nd rd picks who were all stars.
Yeah only because it increases the chances of finding that out of nowhere rotation piece.
My trade grade
Lakers A
Nets F
This trade makes the Lakers past the first round playoffs
Finney Smith 3%
44%
DLo 33%
how do the nets get an F? they have the most cap space and the most picks over the next seven years. not to mention they still play in nyc.
Wolves traded Towns to Knicks
I said
Knicks got Grade A
Wolves got F
Nobody agrees with me
Nobody agrees with a bot you know
Agreed. After this season, the Nets will have almost a wide open roster. Plus Claxton, Johnson, Cam Thomas, etc. will be under contract. Lots of picks. All the other teams in the league would love to be in the Net’s position. Great trade for the Nets.
I seem to remember the Bulls (post Jordan) and Knicks (Stoudemire) having plenty of cap space and never using it well so what is the real point.
They traded something of value for a few second round picks that they already have a bunch of.
2nd rd pick is either a Jokic or a Bronny
He’s what, 19? Is he completely a lost cause?
Nah Memphis got stupid and greedy and got burned
2026 pick and it was done
Kennard probably just declined
Nets hot sale
Another dumb trade. Lakers won’t be relevant or worthy until LBJ is gone and they can start building a foundation for the team more than just 1 year at a time. Disappointing the lakers keep doing this merry go round each season.
Ok but they are 18-13 in 5th place right now, like I get it, they probably will be a play-in team as the season goes on, but this move is in itself a decent move to keep them afloat.
You’re supporting my argument. It’s only a lateral move.
The larger point is LeBron isn’t going anywhere because he’s a money printing machine off the court. And if LeBron isn’t leaving until he retires, you might as well try to compete for as long as you can in the meantime (within reason). Considering the price here was only some seconds and a fringe player, that’s not too bad.
You said it was a dumb trade, he said it’s a decent move
Yeah because Dlo was such a foundational piece to the team. It’s like LeBron haters don’t even attempt to form a coherent narrative
We don’t need a narrative. We just hate him
Living in ya’lls head rent free lol.
And it’s why nobody takes you seriously, GTW.
The lebron cheerleaders refuse to acknowledge facts, think logically and are constantly inventing false narratives or plan just believing misinformation. Hurry up and get that next 30 piece to equal MJ GOAT. Only 96 more 40 pieces to go lol. Keep calling yourself the GOAT lol.
Cherry picking stats is so funny to me. I guess James Harden is closer to being the GOAT than Lebron because he’s only 70 games away lol.
Yeah, maybe he’s just the second best player ever,
How embarrassing
Nrg82 is a Celtics fan. If LeBron played for Boston he’d defend him to the death, lmao.
Lmao D-Lo traded Lakers to Nets again
I wonder what the record is for a player being traded from the same team A to the same team B. I can’t imagine it happened three times. So two could be the record.
So rather than get Valencunas they get Dorian??? What a joke! Should have gotten Cam Johnson if you go down that road. How many power forwards do they need, they lack size! They actually got tired of DLo, shocker!Shocker! Lmao
They still have 1st round picks available…the real win here is DLo gone.
Dorian Finney-Smith can play small forward also! Relax! The Lakers aren’t done yet, they still have first round picks and other expandable players to land another impact player or two.
Val has the worst defesnive fg% against within 6 ft in the entire league-
There’s a bigger gap between him and 2 than 2 to 9th worst defender
JV is one of the most overrated players in the NBA, which is funny because he’s just a roleplayer even at his best. People *really* don’t understand that size and total rebounds don’t make a Center good.
Valančiūnas is overpaid because he’s just not as effective as he was when he entered the league. You’ll get solid minutes but he’s in Washington for a reason.
I don’t think it makes the Lakers a contender but a bunch of 2nd picks and getting rid of Russell’s contract for a guy who can defend and shoot a bit is a great move.
I agree with this, getting a decent wing rotation piece who can step in when Bron is off court or out resting for dead weight in D-lo is a great move. Lakers aren’t doing too bad this year, lets see in 2 months though…
It moves the needle…
But makes the post LBJ years brighter than their immediate future…
The Nets got Milton in the Bridges trade where they received 5 1st round picks. Now they use Milton to add another 3 2nd round picks. Great job by Marks to maximize the Nets draft capital.
Nets now have the most overall draft picks over the next 7 years. Now up to 15 1sts and 16 2nds.
Same nets who did a ton of building and tried to buy a chip by acquiring Joe Johnson,KG,Gerald Wallace and others? Then got KD and Kyrie and it failed. We know rjey already gave away Tatum and Jalen Brown to Celtics due to that 2012 KG and co trade. Nobody has faith in the nets, unless you just don’t know their history.
Milton was used to match salary in both of those trades. In no way was he the reason for any of that draft capital changing hands. It’s incredible what people can spin in their own minds regardless of if it has any factual basis.
Great deal for the LAL. Suprised there wasn’t more interest in DFS. Physical 2 position, 2 way wings are valuable. Dlo is not. LAL needs better and more physical perimeter defenders. DFS helps.
As a Warriors fan, we pretty much have to get rid of Wiggins if we are going to improve the roster, due strictly to his salary. I was kind of hoping that if they make that move that DFS would still be around to grab to fill the gap, he’s a good rotation piece as long as you aren’t looking for him to score. Great spacer though.
Agreed. D-lo would be valuable as, like, a minimum or maybe $5 million deal. But at $18 million and demands as a starter (which he cannot do because he has no defensive instincts), he’s worth less than nothing.
recca:
Milton had nothing to do with it. He was just salary filler.
He was happy in Brooklyn just saying
Nets did a good move getting rid of a bench player making 15 million for 3 2nd round picks. lakers gave up some offense for defense that they desperately need. Both teams filled out needs. The only negative for the lakers they added $15 million in payroll for next year making it even harder to sign free agents.
Should have offered Gabe Vincent and three 2nds to Brooklyn for Dennis S.
LeBron should go back to SF and AD back to PF but okay zing to the Grizzlies. You cannot have Dorian
Dennis Schroder can only be traded in february…
They should have
Nets didn’t want future salary though
Dennis is on a one year contract though
Everyone on here is either a lakers fan and thinks wow great deal we are winning the league or is a LeBron hater and says doesn’t change a thing blah blah blah rebuild.
My first thought was is DFS an upgrade on Rui?
DFS- 46% FG% and 43.5% from 3P%. Averaging 10.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists.
Rui- 48.5% FG% and 45% from 3P%. Averaging 12.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists.
Rui measures 6’8, 230lbs and is 26 whereas DFS 6’7, 220lbs and is 31.
In every statistically category Rui is better, including blocks and steals. He’s younger, hes faster and he’s bigger. Physically he’s better than him at everything.
I understand they have up Dlo, they still have Rui, its more a case of Rui likely getting dropped to the bench for this new guy they just have up a bunch of picks for. Great deal for Brooklyn, they needed a point guard cause they just traded Dennis and now they get back a former fan favourite. Don’t have to worry about DFS minutes at PF cause they have Simmons, Clowney, Wilson and Watford.
Give Brooklyn a B+ and Lakers a C
Are there minutes for both Rui and DFS?
There’s plenty of minutes for both. Smith is better than Reddish and LeBron will be playing more points guard.
Ofcourse you can manage both but I mean you’re giving up basically a starter and 3 second round picks for what a back up forward for Bron and Rui
I don’t see a single Laker fan in this thread
Who are you talking about?
Does the deal guarantee they make the finals???
2 teams that won’t have any playoff impact. Meh
Doesn’t change a thing….still bombing out early, yay.
Bottom line is neither la team esp clippers is a threat to do anything in the playoffs
W trade for both teams
They ain’t winning the chip with this trade…
But this is a massive improvement for the Lakers…
Getting off of Dlo’s contract before LBJ retires is huge as well…
Yeah not like D-lo was lighting it up, but the laker point guard stocks now…..ouch. Need to address this for sure. Gabe goes down then what, oh Bronny, my bad lol.
Reeves and LBJ handle the ball enough for a cheap PG off the free egent market to fit the bill…
They just need a depth player, someone out there that can run the point when those 2 are resting…
Like say Shake Milton…
Reaves and LeBron both handle the ball more than any of the three on-paper PGs, lol.
Are people stupid, getting rid of Dlos contract. It was an expiring deal and DFS has a player option
I’d give up a 3pt chucker who disappears in the playoffs for 2 years of a 3/D wing all day. Decent 3/D’s are getting harder to come by. Anyone can huck 3’s and not play D.
Milton with some picks was worth it from a salary dump perspective…
Dorian and Milton… Lakers made a great trade for their future…
I meant get rid of his contract as in get a quality player out of an expiring deal.
The irony of someone with your username calling others stupid is priceless….
Im guessing Kennard vetoed his no trade otherwise he would be in Memphis
Good fit for the Lakers, helps D and will just be asked to space and spot up on O
That Memphis idea did make more sense for the Nets…
Good on Russell to play for a less dysfunctional franchise.
This is a smart move by Lakers. He is an excellent rotation piece. Proven and shown be ready for a playoff run. Lewis a young wing had a solid College career. Young player and picks for Nets.
Russell had his best yrs in Bklyn. Seems all he wanted was to get that contract. Cause he’s gotten worse every place he’s been. He was shopped since drafted. I guess that always affected him. It’s too bad he could have been somebody.
Ever since Nets got their pick back from Rockets. You knew they were all about the draft. wSeems they are all in now. Bogdanovic, Claxton, Thomas, Johnson who’s next ??
I think Dlo is a classic case of a kid who got too much hype as a high school or college player…
Didn’t learn anything until Brooklyn and lucked into an All star role which repeated the cycle as he got complacent and didn’t try to learn to be a better player…
I agree with too soon. But he had real talent and size. No commitment. Mamba mentality is a real thing.
He also just doesn’t have any defensive instincts. Say what you will about physical attributes, but those mean jack if you don’t pay attention on D. D-Lo basically has the attention span of a goldfish on defense; he gets lost so easily.
That’s the thing… The hype built up his ego and he plateaued thinking he was already a star just because of where he was talent wise in high school…
Talent has to be built upon to reach the next level… He never really built anything after high school…
Had real potential, but never took it seriously enough… Zero Mamba mentality…
Getting off DLo for Bugs Bunny would be a win for the Lakers
NETS are in the process ……. they’re managing their cap space and within the next few years will sign such superstars like KD, Kyrie and more. Let’s go.
D’Lo cannot be traded again and I guess it’s not worth keeping him around for a sign and trade or something.
Brooklyn should try to reach a buy-out agreement asap to free up a roster space.
D’Lo could go to Golden State, Cavaliers, Sacramento, Indiana or Clippers on a minimum salary I guess.
Doubt he does that as he is letting go of his Bird rights as well. Unless Brooklyn says it now that they wont even resign him or do any sign and trades for him.
Arthur seems to think he is a buyout-candidate. Will depend on D’Lo giving up enough salary obviously.
Do you think Brooklyn will re-sign him in the offseason for trade purposes? It would cost them cap space… Cannot believe he would be a core piece next season.
What value do you think could they get for him if they sign him for a team friendly contract?
My mistake: D’Lo can still be traded off course, he can just not be aggregated anymore.
And ESPN feels that a swap for another expiring contract could net them a 2nd rounder.
If the Nets believe they can flip him for more picks (2nd rounders likely) then maybe he goes somewhere but I highly doubt anybody wants him at his price even if he is an expiring deal. Maybe a 2 year player with picks for his contract but I cant think of any such player right now.
You can’t really say he was pursued very hard when it’s a dumpster dive price.
He was, but before now the Nets were pretty firm on asking for quality young players or firsts for DFS. Including Lewis gave them enough, apparently.
Brooklyn is only 677 dollars below the luxury tax That must be a record.
They have the luxury now that they dont have to trade anymore.
Cam Thomas, Bojan Bogdanovic and Ben Simmons could still be traded for the right return, where i guess they dont want to take back much extra salary next season.
But if they want to preserve their cap space in the offseason, I guess all three should also have more value in the offseason? Or not?
That should be $677K. It’s been fixed.
The Nets are not done trading. But do you build around Cam Thomas is the question that must be answered. Cameron Johnson is next on the block. Simmons will be bought out at deadline if they can’t find a taker. Lavine for Simmons? Will be interesting to watch Marks moves.,
No doubt Spike. It will be fun to watch the Nets moves.
Cam Thomas is a 6th man. You can get those late in drafts or maybe even from the G league.
The first team that offers a first for him likely gets him from the Nets. Which would mean he aint moving.
They need guys that are the same age as Thomas. Z Williams should start and develop next to Thomas. He is the same age.
Two players left to trade. Claxton’s body language shows he doesn’t want to be there anymore. Cam Johnson’s contract is horrible and they need to trade it now for anything expiring and picks. No long term contracts. Start over