The first move of free agency for the Los Angeles Lakers was ensuring Jake LaRavia was wearing purple and gold in the 2025-26 NBA season. Some may point to this as evidence of the Lakers losing their magic as a destination. However, LaRavia should quickly prove perfect for JJ Redick's system.
Sam Vecenie of the Game Theory Podcast was someone who has bought in on that idea. The podcast host could not wait to sing the praises of how well this union could work out for the Lakers by the end of the upcoming campaign.
"Redick is really going to like LaRavia," Vecenie told Bryce Simon. "JJ is really going to appreciate what LaRavia brings from both an offensive and defensive perspective, in terms of his ability to pass the ball, make quick decisions, shoot it, play-make, everything like that."
Simon expressed that the Lakers would be best off with having Rui Hachimura operate off the bench. That could leave the door open for LaRavia to carve out his role with the starters.
Jake LaRavia's two-way impact will be impossible to ignore for the Lakers
Simon was clear that spot could go to either LaRavia or Marcus Smart. Either way, the vision would be pushing Hachimura back to the second unit.
The case for Smart to get that spot is easy to make. Among the starters, some of the bigger concerns surrounding his offense get greatly suppressed immediately. However, the reservations had about his health would still be ever-present.
LaRavia will not have the same type of immediate appeal as a former Defensive Player of the Year winner. However, the seamless fit into the starting group should be apparent after a longer look.
The former Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings forward had his best season shooting the ball in 2024-25. LaRavia pocketed a career-high 42.3 percent of his 3-point looks from beyond the arc in the previous campaign.
Luka Doncic has proven his ability to take a poor shooter in the past and turn him into a quality option from distance. Let us not forget how Dorian Finney-Smith described his quality of shots playing with Doncic and LeBron James. LaRavia is already capable of maximizing those easy opportunities.
Dorian Finney-Smith says he’s been getting “buck-naked wide-open” shots playing with LeBron and Luka 😬
(via @LoJoMedia)pic.twitter.com/1HGbMOIc2d
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 25, 2025
It is also important to remember that the newest Lakers forward arrives in Los Angeles still only 23 years old. There is plenty of time and room for growth. Getting that opportunity with Doncic and James is something a young player dreams of.
LaRavia delivered 1.5 defensive win shares during the 2024-25 season, with the majority of those coming with the Grizzlies. It was also with Memphis that LaRavia posted a very respectable 113 defensive rating.
With that same sample size from the Grizzlies, the team had a better offensive and defensive rating when LaRavia was on the court versus when the two-way wing would sit. With the Kings, that was not the case. However, one could easily argue that had more to do with a lackluster Sacramento team.
The Lakers would be more comparable to the Grizzlies. The young forward would be put into a tough defensive assignment every night, if the plan was to start him with Doncic, James, Austin Reaves, and Deandre Ayton. Redick should provide the opportunity for LaRavia to take that challenge.