The Houston Rockets continue to be the biggest winners of the NBA offseason. After signing key players, Steven Adams, Fred VanVleet, and Jabari Smith Jr. to new contracts and trading for Kevin Durant, the Rockets made a big splash in free agency.
Only 30 minutes after the NBA free agency period officially kicked off, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Houston was signing free agent forward Dorian Finney-Smith to a four-year, $53 million contract. One of the best available three-and-D wings on the market, Finney-Smith makes the Kevin Durant trade look that much better for the Rockets.
Free agent forward Dorian Finney-Smith has agreed to a four-year, $53 million deal with the Houston Rockets, sources tell ESPN. Finney-Smith's agent, Michael Tellem of Excel Sports, negotiated terms of the deal tonight with Rockets executives for the 3-and-D wing. pic.twitter.com/wUNbGn0rOy
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2025
Rockets Poach Dorian Finney-Smith from the Lakers in Free Agency
Houston had to give up Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green when acquiring Durant. There was some concern among Rockets fans about losing depth on the wing and perimeter defense. Finney-Smith checks both of those boxes as a player who can guard multiple positions. He eases the defensive load on Durant on one end of the floor and provides spacing on the other.
Not only does this move strengthen the Rockets on both ends of the floor, but it also weakens a potential Western Conference contender. Finney-Smith was a big positive for the Lakers after they acquired him mid-season, and many assumed that the 32-year-old small forward would be back in Los Angeles going forward.
To poach Finney-Smith away from Los Angeles, the Rockets had to give him a four-year deal using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception. There is a chance that this contract will age poorly once Finney-Smith is in his mid-30s. However, for the next season or two when KD is still playing at an All-NBA level, Finney-Smith will help the Rockets be one of the best teams in the league.
The Rockets may have to overpay a little on the back end of this contract, but they are getting a consistent, quality three-and-D wing with playoff pedigree, and those players are hard to come by. It's hard to argue that this is not a home run deal for a team going all-in for a championship next season.