ORLANDO, Fla. — Dorian Finney-Smith is gone, D’Angelo Russell is back, and the roster rebuild continues.
The Nets shipped Finney-Smith and backup guard Shake Milton to the Lakers for Russell, Maxwell Lewis and draft capital — the Lakers’ second-rounders in 2027, 2030 and 2031.
What the Nets lost was their toughness on the court and the grown-up in the locker room.
And coach Jordi Fernandez admitted that leadership void cost them as they gave up a 22-4 run to close Sunday’s humbling 102-101 loss at the Magic.
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell goes for a layup against the Kings on Dec. 28, 2024. Getty Images“I’ll miss toughness, leadership, day-to-day happiness and about being about the right things and all that stuff. It’s just very simple that if we were to have that maturity and that toughness, we close this game,” Fernandez said.
“We all have emotions. When you spend time with somebody you build relationships. When you see those people go, it’s tough. I love those guys. They’ve been part of our family. We’ve seen them day to day, we know their families, what they’re about, and they’ve been amazing for us. Now they’re gone. … If you keep telling yourself this is part of the business, emotionally it’s not that easy.”
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The deal brings Russell back to Brooklyn.
The point guard — averaging 12.4 points and 4.7 assists this season with the Lakers — was a linchpin of general manager Sean Marks’ first Nets rebuild before being moved in a sign-and-trade for Kevin Durant. He’s not a buyout candidate, and the Los Angeles Times reports he’s “excited about the return to Brooklyn.”
Russell played for the Nets from 2017-19, earning his lone All-Star berth in 2019.
The guard is on an expiring $18.7 million contract and will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer.
The Nets are slated to have $59 million in cap space in what promises to be a significant roster overhaul.
D’Angelo Russell with the Nets in 2019. Anthony J CausiThe Nets also have an NBA-high 31 draft picks over the next seven years — 15 first-rounders and 16 second-rounders.
The Nets also got Lewis, a little-used, 22-year-old wing taken in the 2023 second round.
The Lakers package was chosen over Memphis’ offer of a first-round pick, John Konchar and Luke Kennard.
But sources said the Grizzlies’ pick was so heavily protected it might never have been conveyed, and Memphis also demanded the Nets’ second-rounder.
Dorian Finney-Smith Robert Sabo for NY PostIn Finney-Smith, the Nets are losing a well-liked leader.
“Always good energy, always in a good mood,” Noah Clowney said. “My dog, somebody I relied on heavily as far as the emotional roller coaster that you can have in this league, especially at my age. Great guy. Great vibes, always.”
Finney-Smith is having one of his best seasons, averaging 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and shooting 43.5 from deep.
He was a team-leading plus-41, when no other Net entered Sunday better than plus-2.
But he has a player option for next year and was likely to leave for nothing.
The Post had reported that Marks and Nets owner Joe Tsai had an offer of two first-round picks for Finney-Smith in 2023.
But they were trying to compete at the time and had no interest in a teardown.
Times have changed.
“It could be tough, for the guys you was grinding with in the preseason and training camp getting to know the guys,” Cam Thomas said. “So you definitely build relationships, build friendships.
“But at the end of day, we’re still pros. We got a game to do.”
Cam Johnson left the game with left hip soreness and did not return.






