Jake LaRavia Explodes for Career-High with Memphis Grizzlies—Highlights, Stats & What’s Next

Free-agent forward Jake LaRavia is heading west after agreeing to a two-year, $12 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania. The move gives the Lakers a 6-foot-8, 235-pound stretch-four who shot 42.3 percent from three last season and who finished 2024-25 on a tear with the Sacramento Kings. Why the Lakers pounced • Elite catch-and-shoot potential: LaRavia drilled 46.8 percent of his corner threes after the All-Star break, providing the type of spacing Darvin Ham has coveted alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. • Positional versatility: The former first-round pick guarded positions 2-4 in Memphis and Sacramento and posted a 1.9 steal percentage that ranked in the top quarter of NBA wings. • Affordable upside: At $6 million annually, LaRavia costs less than the full mid-level exception, keeping Los Angeles flexible for additional free-agency swings. 2024-25 stat line Games: 66 | Minutes: 21.3 | PPG: 6.9 | RPG: 3.9 | APG: 2.4 | FG%: 47.5 | 3P%: 42.3 Fit with the depth chart LeBron and Davis remain entrenched, but behind Rui Hachimura (player option), the Lakers lacked a true floor-stretching forward. LaRavia projects to slot into the second unit with Gabe Vincent, Max Christie, Austin Reaves or Jalen Hood-Schifino, allowing Ham to maintain five-out spacing while resting his stars. If the Duke/Wake Forest product’s defense holds, he could also close games in small-ball lineups at the 4 next to Davis. How LaRavia got here • Drafted 19th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022 after averaging 14.6 points and 38.4 percent from deep at Wake Forest. • Logged spot minutes over two seasons in Memphis before a February 2025 three-team deal sent him to the Kings. • Broke out in Sacramento, scoring 13.8 points per 36 minutes with a 62.4 true-shooting percentage, forcing front-office execs leaguewide to take notice. • Kings declined his $5.2 million fourth-year option to preserve cap space, making him an unrestricted free agent at age 23. Cap ramifications Los Angeles now sits roughly $8 million below the second apron with 12 players under contract. A veteran-minimum center and a two-way guard remain on Rob Pelinka’s shopping list, but the franchise can pivot to sign-and-trade scenarios if a bigger name emerges. What they’re saying • LeBron James (via Instagram story): “Shooter alert 🔥 Welcome to the LakeShow, young fella.” • Former Kings assistant Doug Christie on local radio: “Jake’s basketball IQ is off the charts. If he keeps defending, the scoring will take care of itself.” • NBA scout to SI: “He was one of the best plug-and-play shooters on the board and won’t turn 24 until late fall.” Looking ahead LaRavia is expected to join the Lakers’ Summer League squad in Las Vegas for quick system integration before training camp opens in September. With Reaves and Hachimura both coming off strong playoff runs, the Lakers envision LaRavia filling the Malik Beasley role from two seasons ago—only with more size and defensive range. Bottom line By locking in Jake LaRavia early in free agency, the Los Angeles Lakers add youthful shooting, switchable defense and contract value in one stroke. If his Kings surge proves sustainable, the purple and gold may have uncovered their next breakout role player just in time for another championship push in 2025-26.