Dorian Finney-Smith has averaged double-digit points only twice in his nine-year NBA career. But scoring is not why he’s played this long in the league.
Sure, he’s a career 36% shooter from downtown, so he can space the floor and knock down the open jumper but, at 6’7″ and 220 pounds with a 7′ wingspan, Finney-Smith is a maven on defense, hounding smaller players on the perimeter while having enough length and girth to battle down low in the paint.
After playing 43 games with the Los Angeles Lakers last season, Finney-Smith is now taking his talents to Houston, as the Rockets are ponying up $53 million over four years, per ESPNs Shams Charania.
Houston had the fifth-best defensive rating in the NBA last season. It should remain in the top-five this upcoming season, with the possibility of being one of the best. Amen Thompson and Finney-Smith should wreak havoc on opposing wings. Fred VanVleet is older but he’s still a good point-of-attack defender. Kevin Durant is long and experienced while Alperen Sengun has improved on the defensive end as well.
