Reporter: It is a mistake for the Lakers to let DFS go, and it is difficult to make up for its losses even if they introduce Smart.

According to an article by NBA reporter RB Hayek, talking about the Lakers' offseason operation, he said that one thing the Lakers did not do was to renew a better defensive player on the team. After Finney Smith chose to leave the team, the Lakers' offseason operations became much worse. The specific content is as follows:

Finney Smith did not renew the contract with the Lakers.

Finney Smith signed a $53 million contract with the Houston Rockets after rejecting the Lakers' $15 million option. Unfortunately, it all comes down to the issue of contract age. If the Lakers offer Finney Smith a four-year contract, he might stay in Los Angeles. But the Lakers just want to give him a two-year contract. There is also a trust issue between the two parties. It is reported that Finney Smith feels he is being looked down upon by the Lakers, which has led to a breakdown in contract negotiations. Although Finney Smith wants long-term guarantees, the Lakers seem to think he is not worthy of the long-term contract. Additionally, he is 32 years old and the Lakers may not be willing to give him a contract of more than two years.

Fenney Smith's departure was a mistake because it lost a better defensive player. Although introducing Smart is a good operation, it does not make up for the losses caused by the loss of Finney Smith. Moreover, his departure has created a huge vacancy and left an unpleasant feeling in the 2025 NBA offseason, which may cause trouble for the Lakers in the future.

Fenney Smith's absence has had an impact on the Lakers

Fenney Smith is an excellent 3D wing defender, and he has a good chemistry with Doncic off the court. His departure has caused the Lakers' rotation lineup to be vacant, and now there are big problems on the defensive end. Smart will stay in the team to defend the opponent's defender. However, the question now extends to the big guys - who will defend them? Currently, the Lakers plan to let Hachimura serve as a small forward and James serve as a power forward. Hachimura's performance is not bad, but he is not as good as Finney Smith's level in terms of outside defense and preventing his opponent from easily hitting the basket.

Losing Finney Smith will also allow the team to face new matchup problems when facing teams like the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers. When Finney Smith was on the team, it was difficult for the opponent to beat him by cutting and covering. It is worth noting that this is exactly the way these two teams rely on for success. An All-Star player like Kawhi Leonard will play easier without an experienced top defender against the basket.

How can other operations in the Lakers make up for this situation?

For the Lakers, the 2025 NBA offseason is not nothing. Although it was heartbreaking to lose Finney Smith, they also had Ayton, the big inside man. Smart will start from the bench to help the back line. However, young player Jack Laravia will be under greater pressure. How would he deal with his role?

The Lakers should have tried their best to keep Finney Smith, but they are hesitant about the contract length. This will force other Lakers players to improve their performance. Overall, a healthy starting lineup remains one of the best in the league. Even though he is old, James is still one of the greatest players in history; Doncic is one of the top scorers in the league; Reeves is still an above-average shooter; Ayton can also take on the heavy responsibility of rebounding alone. However, the team still lacked something.

NBA fans can see the strength of this Lakers in the first few weeks of the season. If the defensive end is still struggling, people may start to regret losing Finney Smith. After joining the Rockets, Finney Smith will fight side by side with Kevin Durant and may also be able to compete with the team for the championship. Ultimately, the Lakers' offseason operations are enough to get them into a competitive team. When the Lakers play against the Houston Rockets, it will attract a lot of attention. The first showdown with Finney Smith and his Rockets will either prove that the Lakers’ decision was right or that they made a serious mistake. In theory, this matter is likely to make them regret it in the future.