Reporter: Finney is not in the KD7 team s big deal and is likely to sign the Rockets directly instead of signing first and then changing

July 5th According to The SteinLine columnist & open-air stand reporter Jake Fischer, several sources revealed that the record-breaking seven-team deal for sending Durant to the Rockets has now reached an agreement in principle, and the transaction is expected to be officially announced on July 7 (the opening day of the 2025-26 season salary cap year).

TheAthletic reporter Fred Katz said that Dorian Finney Smith ($53 million in 4 years) is not included in this transaction at present. He is likely to sign directly with the Rockets, rather than joining by signing first and then changing.

FredKatz's original text is as follows:

I saw a lot of speculation outside that the Lakers might get some rewards in Finney Smith's signing and then switching. But unfortunately, for the Lakers, this (Fenney Smith signs first and then switches) doesn't seem to have any traction -- and I don't expect that to change.

Digital sources in the league revealed that the Rockets are upgrading Durant's trade to a seven-team big deal, and this move seems to be increasingly likely. Part of the reason that this deal was that the Rockets wanted to sign Finney Smith directly.

The Rockets currently have only middle-class special cases to sign a player, which means they must convert Finney Smith or Capela's franchise to sign first and then exchange. They are doing this with this unfinished seven-team big deal that includes Capela ($21.5 million in 3 years) returning from the Hawks to the Rockets by signing first and then switching.

Because Capela will return to the Rockets by signing first and then changing, so as not to occupy the middle-class special case, the Rockets can use this middle-class special case to directly sign Finney Smith. Since they don't have to do this (let Finney Smith sign first and then join), why give the players or draft picks to the Lakers?

As of now, Finney Smith has not participated in this seven-team big deal. Major league sources revealed that so far, the only players who played in the NBA last season and participated in the trade (that is, not counting the signing rights for this year's rookie) are: Capela, Durant, Dillon Brooks, Jaylen Green, Ploden and Roddy.