The Los Angeles Lakers could lose a key role player this offseason after Dorian Finney-Smith declined his player option for the 2025-26 season, but the team reportedly already has an eye on a new addition if Finney-Smith decides to walk in free agency.

The news follows the report that Finney-Smith opted out of his $15.4 million player option on Sunday, making him an unrestricted free agent. He joined the Lakers in a December trade that sent him from the Brooklyn Nets to Los Angeles as part of the package that included Anthony Davis in the Luka Doncic deal.

James, the league’s all-time leading scorer who turns 41 in December and will enter an unprecedented 23rd NBA season – breaking a tie with Vince Carter for most NBA seasons played – had until 2 p.m. on Sunday to decide on the option in his contract as part of the two-year, $101.4 million contract he signed with the Lakers last summer.