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The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly interested in trading for a role player from the Brooklyn Nets.
Per Clutch Point’s Anthony F. Irwin, the Lakers “checked in on Dorian Finney-Smith” last season and have been in “constant contact” with the Nets about him this season (17:30 in video).
Irwin also mentioned small forward Cam Johnson as a possible target for Los Angeles.
The Lakers have had a strong and perhaps surprising start to the season, sitting at 10-6 on the year. The good start can be attributed to MVP numbers from Anthony Davis, who is putting up 30.1 points, 11.1 boards and 1.9 blocks, along with strong play from LeBron James, who is nearly averaging a triple-double so far this year. Rookie Dalton Knecht has also been a welcome addition and role players like Rui Hachimura and D’Angelo Russell have been solid.
Los Angeles is strong in most areas on the floor, but it needs a strong defender who is also a reliable three-point shooter. Finney-Smith could be exactly what the Lakers need.
The 6’7″ Finney-Smith is averaging 10.8 points, 4.5 boards and nearly a steal per game so far this year. He’s also shooting 41 percent from deep, which would be the best mark of his career if he stays close to that number for the rest of the season.
The Nets also might be willing to part with Finney-Smith if the Lakers make them the right offer. After trading swingman Mikal Bridges this offseason, Brooklyn made it clear it’s going into rebuild mode, so it would likely give Los Angeles Finney-Smith in exchange for some future picks.
The Nets might be more hesitant to trade Johnson, who is averaging a career-high 19.1 points, as he could be viewed as a key part of their rebuild. Still, it could be worth it for the Lakers to make an offer as they pursue another championship.
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