The Los Angeles Lakers' biggest move of the offseason was extending Luka Doncic. It became their priority after they traded for him at the beginning of February. Doncic wasn't their biggest offseason addition, though. That title might belong to Jake LaRavia.
Los Angeles signed LaRavia to a two-year, $12 million contract, using some of the midlevel exception that was available after Dorian Finney-Smith left for Houston. LaRavia doesn't have the reputation that Finney-Smith has, but he's the kind of wing that the Lakers needed. It's a bonus that he costs a fraction of the price of Finney-Smith.
Dan Woike of The Athletic reported that LaRavia was the first player the Lakers called (subscription required) when the free-agency negotiation period began. Woike said that LaRavia was drawn to the Lakers' brand and Redick's "detailed vision for how he'd like to use the young wing."
LaRavia will undoubtedly be one of Redick's favorites. Sam Vecenie said on the "Game Theory Podcast" that he thinks LaRavia will eventually assume a starting role. Vecenie believes Redick will appreciate what the wing will bring to LA on both ends of the floor.
Jake LaRavia has chance to thrive with Lakers under JJ Redick
LaRavia might not be the big-name free agent that Lakers fans are used to, but he has the potential to develop into the kind of player that Redick feels comfortable turning to. If Vecenie's prediction of LaRavia will start turns out to be true, that will happen sooner rather than later. Don't forget that he's only 23, too.
The forward has struggled to find consistency in his first three seasons in the NBA, which led to his being traded to Sacramento before the February deadline. His best season came in 2023-24 when he averaged a career-high 10.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, shooting 38.9% from the field and 34% from three. That was only in 35 games, though (six starts).
He played a combined 66 games this past season for the Grizzlies and the Kings, shooting 42.3% from deep.
Redick and the Lakers believe they can unlock a version of LaRavia that the NBA hasn't seen yet. It's too much to expect him to turn into a true 3-and-D threat overnight, but that's the kind of player he can turn into in Los Angeles.
Signing LaRavia was a low-cost, high-reward move for the Lakers. Who knows? Maybe his deal will look like an underpay in retrospect.