Inside The Nets

The Nets' Finney-Smith and O'Neale are potential trade targets for the Lakers

Some of the Nets’ players are seen as premier trade targets.
Peter Sunjic|
© Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

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Brooklyn NetsLos Angeles Lakers

The Nets have a talented squad with plenty of players who could end up being hot commodities in the trade market. Both Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neale have been cited as potential targets for certain teams.

They are valuable three-and-D players who could immediately contribute to a team with their lockdown defense and shooting. One of the teams that have shown interest is the Los Angeles Lakers, an organization that’s always on the hunt for players who can fit alongside their superstar, LeBron James.

“They just haven’t had those types of guys consistently. It’s always one flaw. Like Jarred Vanderbilt is a really good perimeter defender but can’t shoot, and teams just play him off the floor in the playoffs,” The Athletic’s Jovan Buha said on Jason Timpf’s Hoops Tonight show. “So I think finding at least one of those guys, if not a couple, if possible. Maybe you can’t get Caruso, and you go for Royce O’Neale and Dorian Finney-Smith.”

How both players fit into the Lakers lineup

Either DFS or Royce can seamlessly fit into the Lakers’ lineup because they provide tough defense and reliable perimeter shooting. That is what the Lakers are missing, as they only average 10.9 three-pointers per game, the fourth-worst mark in the league.

The Lakers can create solid spacing with LeBron as the primary ball-handler, but the current team does not have enough shooting. They can get that if they trade for either of Brooklyn’s wings. Finney-Smith is averaging 44.8% on 5.5 attempts from distance, while O’Neale is hitting 39.2% on 5.5 attempts per game.

The contract situations for both players

O’Neale is the easier player to trade for since he’s in the final year of his deal with the Nets. His contract is valued at $9,500,000 for the 2023/24 season, which the Lakers could go for by including players like Taurean Prince, Cameron Reddish, and Jaxson Hayes in the package.

Dorian’s contract is harder to trade for as he still has three years left in this deal, with the third being a player option. He will earn more than $44 million over the next three seasons, which can be a tough contract for the Lakers since they’re already hard-capped.

It will be interesting to see how the Lakers go about their desire for Brooklyn’s role players. If they don’t go for the trade, coach Jacque Vaughn and the Nets will be happy with retaining their players.

Jacque Vaughn gives the reasoning behind sitting most of his starters

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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