Do not be shocked if Jake LaRavia climbs past Rui Hachimura on the Los Angeles Lakers’ depth chart before the regular season tips off. While Hachimura is the more established name, LaRavia brings a skill set, especially on defense, that could give him the edge during training camp.
LaRavia might just be a better fit than Hachimura
According to Jovan Buha of the Buha’s Block, LaRavia is a better defender than Hachimura overall, with more defensive versatility. He also offers more as a ball mover and connective piece offensively, which is a trait the Lakers need more of alongside their stars. Simply put, he does a lot of the small things that win coaches over in October.
There is also this factor involved: LaRavia is a smoother fit next to the Lakers’ core. Buha pointed out that LaRavia is “a better ball handler, a better passer, [and] a better connecting piece offensively” than Hachimura.
When you are playing next to top talent in LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves, that kind of stuff matters.
Moving Hachimura to the bench would not be a bad idea. For one, he has already proven that he can perform well off the pine.
During the 2023-24 season, Hachimura came off the bench 29 times of the 68 games he was available for. In that span, he was averaging double digits and shooting above 42 percent from beyond the arc.
He was also scoring at a career-high shooting efficiency from the field, hitting just over 53 percent of his shots. Hachumra's role has always been more matchup-dependent than permanent. If Lakers head coach, JJ Redick and his staff decide they want more defensive flexibility and off-ball movement, LaRavia could check those boxes quicker than expected.
With Marcus Smart joining the mix, the starting five is even more crowded, making lineup decisions even more complicated than they already are. Smart is most likely the favorite to start next to Reaves for defensive purposes, especially given his DPOY pedigree. But health is a question mark.
Smart has only played 54 games over the last two seasons combined. If he misses time, the Lakers might be forced to reshuffle quickly. That could open the door for LaRavia.
Making a decision like this is not about turning LaRavia into a star or knocking Hachimura’s value. It is about fit. Right now, LaRavia might just fit better with what the Lakers are trying to build under Redick.