The Los Angeles Lakers made a swift and somewhat surprising move to kick off 2025 free agency by signing 23-year-old forward Jake LaRavia. While the team views LaRavia as a valuable addition to bolster shooting alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James, not everyone is sold. Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas didn’t hold back his thoughts on the acquisition, and his viral rant left fans debating whether the decision was brilliant or baffling.
Lakers’ First Move of Free Agency Sparks Unfiltered Response from Gilbert Arenas
The Lakers signed LaRavia to a fully guaranteed two-year contract worth $12 million. The team aims to fill the gap left by Dorian Finney-Smith’s move to the Houston Rockets. LaRavia, a 6’7″ sharpshooter who hit 42.3 percent from beyond the arc this past season, is expected to provide floor spacing and perimeter efficiency.
To Arenas, however, the urgency of the signing raised eyebrows.
“Never in my life have I ever seen a bench player be signed so fast during free agency,” Arenas fumed. “So this is what we’re doing now, signing Jake from Allstate. The nerve of this post saying breaking news.”
Gilbert Arenas loses it after Lakers sign Jake LaRavia the first day of free agency #lakers pic.twitter.com/HjOdyHY3hF
— Gilbert Arenas (@NoChillGilZero) July 1, 2025
Arenas took issue not just with the player, but also with the fanfare surrounding the move. He compared the announcement to potential headline-worthy signings like Jonathan Kuminga, Deandre Ayton, or Myles Turner, all of whom, in his view, would warrant “breaking news” status. LaRavia, in stark contrast, averaged just 6.9 points last season.
“Right here. n***a who averaged six points last year, that ain’t breaking news. You a damn fool, huh?” Arenas said, adding, “We could have got him the last, right before training camp.”
LaRavia’s Path to Los Angeles and Arenas’s Doubts
To Arenas, the Lakers could have tested LaRavia’s fit with far less commitment. “You could have had him try the f**k out to see if he can make the team. You could have put the n***a with Bronny. Put him in Summer League with Bronny.”
LaRavia’s journey includes being drafted 19th overall in 2022. He started his career in Memphis, and eventually landed with Sacramento following a trade. Despite flashes of potential, Memphis declined his option for the 2025-26 season back in October 2024. This was a decision Grizzlies General Manager Zach Kleiman reportedly came to regret.
The Lakers now hope LaRavia can fill the void left by Finney-Smith, who departed for a four-year, $53 million deal.
Still, Arenas was far from convinced, ending his tirade with, “God damn it, this is for shit.”
Whether LaRavia proves the doubters wrong remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: his arrival in Los Angeles hasn’t gone unnoticed, even if the reactions are sharply divided.
