I'm sure its no surprise to anyone thats been watching... but DFS is ranked as the 7th worst move since the offseason by ESPN... 7. Houston Rockets sign Dorian Finney-Smith Why it's on the list: Finney-Smith was one of the NBA's best role players last season, while playing for the Nets and Lakers. His plus-14.2 on/off differential was third best in the league, behind only Nikola Jokic and Christian Braun of the Nuggets. So it seemed like a coup when the Rockets signed him for four years and $53 million, on the heels of trading for Kevin Durant. Finney-Smith's addition was one reason the Rockets seemed like the offseason's biggest winners. But Finney-Smith didn't debut with his new team until Christmas, and he's barely made an impact since. He's averaged just 3.2 PPG, and he still hasn't reached double-digit points in any game as a Rocket. Is there any hope? Finney-Smith's playing time has perked up recently. He never exceeded 20 minutes in a game before February 10, but he's done so in 10 of 14 games since. The production still isn't there, but Rockets coach Ime Udoka is clearly trying to incorporate him before the postseason. And because Finney-Smith is signed beyond this year, he'll have more opportunities in the future, preferably when his start to the season isn't waylaid by injury. and as an additional kick in the crotch, Phoenix acquiring Dillon is listed as one of the best moves... 6. Phoenix Suns trade for Dillon Brooks Why it's on the list: It seemed like Brooks was included in the Rockets' trade for Kevin Durant primarily for salary-matching purposes. But the veteran wing has had a much greater impact in Phoenix, where he's spearheaded the Suns' turnaround from lottery team in 2024-25 to playoff hopeful in 2025-26. This move makes the "best" list not only because of Brooks' play on the court -- he's averaging a career-high 20.9 PPG -- but because of his off-court influence on the Suns' culture. "He's in the gym more than anybody that I know," Suns guard Collin Gillespie told ESPN's Tim MacMahon earlier this season. "You see how hard he works, how competitive he is, and you want to not let your teammate down when you see that. He makes you want to work harder. He challenges you to be in the gym with him, challenges you to play harder." What's the potential playoff impact? Brooks hasn't played since Feb. 21 due to a broken hand, though his projected four-to-six-week absence means he could return in time for the postseason. The Suns need a healthy Brooks to make any noise in the playoffs, as he ranks second on the team in points and minutes. Acquiring Katy did not make the list.... whole list is here... Ranking the 10 best and 10 worst NBA deals since 2025 offseason - ESPN
Lol they had to masquerade drafting a player as a transaction to not have to put OKC on Number 1....so much win for Presti and Co.
If it was known he was injured, not sure if so, why did we make that move to begin with? Even healthy he was slow and just a spot up shooter, which I guess fits Ime's vision of this team, but does not cater to the strengths of this young team (rebound and run). Same with Capela, who's been solid, but he's slow. We needed rim runners.
Has he been healthy most of the year? No, he missed more than half of the season. Has he been good when healthy? No, he sucks. Is he young enough that he could really improve? Haha, wrong side of thirty. Was he at least cheap for a roleplayer signing? Nope, basically full non-taxpayer MLE. Did we at least not commit to him too long-term? No, contract is guaranteed and even has a fourth year player option. Did we have a real need for a defensive forward? Also no, we have like four other forwards who can play defense on the roster. Genius move, I tell you.
He sucks now but it could be similar to Steven Adams where it takes a year to get back to normal. Hopefully he doesn’t go down again like Adams though
Idk DFS may shock people next year if he has a full healthy summer. Dude still doesnt look close to 100% rnow.
He's been a disastrous signing. I still cannot believe they willingly gave him even two years guaranteed when he was coming off ankle surgery. The only reason the DFS signing hasn't hurt the team as badly as it could've is because Stone went and got Okogie for the veteran's minimum. That's been a lifesaver for the Rockets.
7th - That's generous. What makes it worse is that it prevented them from doing anything about the PG spot after FVV was lost. Double Whammy.
It was a mistake, but it’s an expiring contract next season. The biggest problem with it is that it came at the expense of another player who could have really helped us. I don’t like this org’s habit of betting on injuries guys. It didn’t work with Olidipo or Wall, Steveo has had two season ending injuries in 3 seasons. And DFS was never able to recover from his surgery to start the season. He may also just be too old. it’s not a good approach. They should stop betting on old injured players. Maybe also don’t put all your eggs in 32 yr old Fred coming off ACL surgery.
When it comes to role players they truly have that impoverished small market mindset of striking a tiny bargain with injured players.
I get hindsight is 20/20.... but this move pretty much lines up with the vision of the FO/coaching staff..... An oversized, switchable team with a bunch of undersized/oversized wings/forwards to clobber the opposing team on defense and win the possession battle. Had the FO known FVV would have been out for the season they probably would have made a different move. Let's not act like the combination of Reed, Amen, and Sengun (who were supposed to supplement the playmaking) have not been either disappointing or too inexperienced. Fortunately, the contract is relatively cheap and not guaranteed after next season. Basically we had a near worst case scenario with injuries and lack of step forward by our players with the most upside.
people are finally starting to realize that Stone is a terrible GM. he fooled you all by tanking and drafting high, which covered his mistakes. all the smaller incremental value moves that Morey mastered are complete zeros for Stone. and thats the part of being a GM that matters when you're trying to win. oh and also he took Jalen when the entire world outside of Houston said Mobley was the easy choice.
There were 6 worse moves??? Looking at the list, hard to say DFS is worse than any of the top 6, and in the end, it was a free swing of a partial MLE. Miss. Next
1. Bucks waive and stretch Damian Lillard to sign Myles Turner 2. Pelicans trade their unprotected 2026 first-round pick to move up from 23 to 13 3. Clippers replace Norman Powell with Bradley Beal and Chris Paul 4. Pelicans sign Kevon Looney and trade for Jordan Poole 5. Raptors extend Jakob Poeltl 6. Kings trade for Dario Saric to add Dennis Schroder 7. Rockets sign Dorian Finney-Smith 8. Knicks sign Guerschon Yabusele 9. Magic sign Tyus Jones 10. Cavaliers trade for Lonzo Ball
