After months of speculation about who they would add ahead of the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers made a deal with the Brooklyn Nets for wing defender Dorian Finney-Smith.

The Lakers boast the 21st-ranked defense in the league, so adding an accomplished and versatile defender was a must heading into trade season.

The Lakers sent D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second-round picks to the Nets for Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. Russell, on an expiring contract, was long expected to be traded.

The Lakers weren’t the only team interested in making a deal with the Nets. According to a report from Hoops Hype’s Michael Scotto, the Memphis Grizzlies offered a top-15 protected 2025 first-round pick, Luke Kennard and John Konchar.

As the second-best team in the Western Conference, Memphis’ draft pick would certainly convey this season, giving the Nets an additional selection in a loaded draft class.

However, Russell is on the last year of his deal and Lewis is on a non-guaranteed contract. Kennard is also on an expiring deal, but Konchar is owed roughly $6 million annually through 2027.

Clearly, the Nets value financial flexibility. Playing in a massive media market allows them to target free agents, and with Finney-Smith off the books and very little money tied up next season, Brooklyn would rather target win-now players or trade their massive haul of draft picks for an established star.

The Grizzlies offered much better draft capital but did not solve the problem of giving Brooklyn financial flexibility in the upcoming offseason, so the Lakers–who were more desperate–got their deal accepted. 

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