2019 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
Dorian Finney-Smith: 3 years, $12 million (Dallas Mavericks)
Free agent Dorian Finney-Smith has agreed to a three-year, $12M deal to re-sign with the Dallas Mavericks, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2019
This deal might seem curious for a team that’s waiting for the Kawhi Leonard fallout to see if it can sign sharpshooter Danny Green, but as Early Bird Rights‘ Jeff Siegel points out, this deal with Dorian Finney-Smith actually increases the Dallas Mavericks‘ salary cap space by getting his qualifying offer off the books.
After agreeing to extensions with Kristaps Porzingis, Dwight Powell, Seth Curry, Maxi Kleber, J.J. Barea and now Finney-Smith, the Mavs still have nearly $23 million in cap space to spend on a legitimate difference-maker or 3-point shooters to surround their dynamic duo with.
Perhaps a splashy move isn’t coming, but the Mavs are definitely going to be better next season if Porzingis can return healthy. Finney-Smith is an overlooked but very good defender who’s become a regular fixture in head coach Rick Carlisle’s rotation, averaging 7.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last year. He’s still only 26 years old and at such a modest price that actually frees up extra space, this is a solid value play.
Grade: A-