Rockets sign Finney Smith to replace Dillon, can he bring the same defense and three-pointers

Since the May offseason started, the Houston Rockets have made many major changes, including multiple signing renewals. The most important deal was to trade Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks for Kevin Durant.

The focus of this deal is mostly on sending off Green's impact on the team, and Brooks' deal is also worth paying attention to. Brooks shot a career-high 39% of his three-point shooting percentage last season. Although he is not the Rockets' main defender, he is still one of the team's outstanding outside defenders.

It has been reported that after the deal is completed, Stone will fill the vacancy that Brooks left as a priority. With the free market opening a week after the trade, the Rockets signed Dorian Finney-Smith, hoping to make up for this position as soon as possible.

Fenney Smith is a veteran with 9 years of experience and has played for three different teams. His last time playing for the Los Angeles Lakers was before the 2025 trade deadline. Like Brooks, he hit a career-high 3-point shooting last season at 41.1%.

In addition, similar to Brooks, Finney Smith is known for his defense rather than his offensive performance. He was a few years older than Brooks, but he did not show a decline last season.

Finney Smith ranked first in the regular season defensive efficiency and ranked first among the starters in the playoffs, averaging more than 33 minutes per game. In the Lakers, he is often used to defend the opponent's best outside player. Although it doesn't need to be so in the Rockets, he is still the second best defender after Amen Thompson.

Brooks shot 10.7 times in the Rockets' first season, up to 11.9 last season. Finney Smith has never made more than 9 shots in his single season in his career, and I hope the Rockets can continue this arrangement. He is a low-demand offensive player and only shoots when necessary.

Although Finney Smith is not a player who is good at bounce scores, it has been proven to be able to hit the rim if he has a chance in the playoffs. He is a typical three-pointer and defensive player. If he can continue his outstanding three-point shooting percentage since last season, he will perfectly adapt to the new look of the Houston Rockets.