JJ Redick Admits Lakers Are Already Missing Key Free Agent Departure

Oct 14, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) with head coach JJ Redick against the Phoenix Suns during an NBA preseason game at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Dorian Finney-Smith became an indispensable member of the Los Angeles Lakers last season.

Acquired from Brooklyn before the trade deadline, he was a guy head coach JJ Redick had targeted as someone who could help the team immediately with his ability to cut, defend multiple spots on the floor, and play with real basketball I.Q. In essence, Finney-Smith was the perfect glue guy.

There was real hope Finney-Smith would be re-signed, considering the impact he had on last year's team, as well as the fact that the team relinquished three second-round picks for him less than a year ago.

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When wanting to re-up on a multi-year deal with the Lakers, the franchise balked — and that led Finney-Smith to leave for a four-year deal with the Houston Rockets. It was somewhat of a crushing blow given the role Finney-Smith would've continued to have as a wing defender.

JJ Redick acknowledged that Dorian Finney-Smith was a big part of the success of the Luka-AR lineups without LeBron last season and that the Lakers will need to figure who fits best around those two.

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) October 11, 2025

Redick recently spoke about Finney-Smith and admitted that he was a major factor in the LeBron James-less lineups last season.

This is an important point to make with James potentially missing the first month of the season.

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Rui Hachimura undoubtedly will be a fixture in the team's most featured lineup alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Deandre Ayton is another likely core member, as the team's newly minted starting five.

The final spot will likely be fluid and situation-dependant. If the team is needing a physical presence in the backcourt with real defensive chops and pedigree, Marcus Smart would make sense.

If there's a need for more shooting and off-ball movement, Jake LaRavia likely would get the call (with Dalton Knecht offering a similar profile). Rookie Adou Thiero may eventually develop into an uber-athletic wing player. However, having sat out the entire summer/much of the preseason, the Arkansas product is still a bit behind the eight ball.

If the team wanted to alleviate ball-handling responsibilities with the hopes of resting Doncic and/or Reaves off the ball for spells, Gabe Vincent is more than capable as a veteran presence initiating the offense.

However, with all of that said, the potential running mate making the most sense is Jared Vanderbilt. He benefits from possessing preexisting chemistry and experience with the team that Smart nor LaRavia offers.

A defensive-minded player with terrific length, he's also one of the most athletic players on the roster. Vanderbilt plays with great energy, and is the type of guy that will thrive in transition off passes from Doncic and Reaves.

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