Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith is among the hottest names on the trade market ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline. An elite on-ball defender, the 31-year-old is shooting a career-high 45.2 percent from three this season. Though Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez has his team in position for a Play-In Tournament berth, Finney-Smith’s two-way ability is considered to be wasted in Brooklyn, as they’re embarking on a rebuild.
Now, Finney-Smith has been adding trade suitors like Infinity Stones.
Nets’ Dorian Finney-Smith Adding Trade Suitors Like Infinity Stones
The Memphis Grizzlies have been described to me as “a team to watch in the trade chase” for Finney-Smith, reports The Stein Line eponymous Marc Stein. The Nets, league sources say, “are likewise interested in” Grizzlies wing John Konchar. Despite his modest production and utilization, Konchar “has also attracted interest from” the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat.
However, the Grizzlies could have stiff competition from several other teams.
Last week, The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Anthony Slater listed the Sacramento Kings as a suitor for Finney-Smith. When the Golden State Warriors’ traded for Dennis Schroder, they had also considered a larger deal involving Finney-Smith or Cam Johnson. Last month, Gery Woelfel of Woelfel’s Press Box reported that the Milwaukee Bucks were interested in Finney-Smith. During the offseason, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers were rumored to have their eyes on the defensive-minded veteran.
That being said, though the Nets may be willing to accept a player of Konchar’s caliber in a trade for Finney-Smith, plenty of franchises could drive a harder bargain. In fact, four of the aforementioned teams —the Kings, Warriors, Bucks, and 76ers —are either in desperation or panic mode. Defense has been a bit of an issue for each of them but their frontcourt rotation has been even more problematic.
How Much Do Grizzlies Want Him?
Memphis will likely need to come with a better offer than what Stein is suggesting. Fortunately for them, whether that requires them to surrender draft capital or send over one of their younger talents, they have the necessary assets. It all comes down to how much they really want him.
He could thrive within the Grizzlies’ system, which emphasizes pace, ball-movement and three-point shooting. Though Memphis has multiple high-quality perimeter defenders, it certainly doesn’t hurt to have another one. Additionally, the Grizzlies’ injury history suggests that they need to have strength in numbers.
The biggest question is whether Finney-Smith will re-sign once his contract expires, be it this offseason or next. However, his competitive personality seems to fit Memphis’s colorful locker room. If his on-court transition goes smoothly on the court, both sides could be eager to renew their partnership.
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