The Los Angeles Lakers have several holes in the roster that need to be addressed this offseason. In LeBron James and Luka Dončić, the Lakers have two of the league’s biggest names leading the way, but this remains a top-heavy roster that is desperately in need of reinforcements.
Locking up 23-year-old Jake LaRavia last week was a step in the right direction for the organization. LaRavia rose to prominence with the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2023-24 season before a three-team trade at the midway point of last season saw him shipped out west to the Sacramento Kings. After extension talks with the Kings broke down, the Lakers moved swiftly to sign the versatile forward who is considered an exceptional shooter.
NBA Insider Confirms Lakers Were Able To Fend Off Competition for LaRavia With ‘Several Teams’ Interested
The Lakers were in the market for a wing after failing to re-sign Dorian Finney-Smith. Landing LaRavia seems like a shrewd piece of business by Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka. LaRavia stock has been on the rise over the last few years, with the sharpshooter showing promising signs when given the opportunity.
In a recent piece by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst, the two insiders confirmed that numerous organizations were interested in signing the former first-round pick. The Lakers were not the only team chasing LaRavia, with the article revealing that a bidding war was taking place behind the scenes for the talented forward.
“There was actually a small bidding war for the young backup forward among several teams, sources told ESPN,” the article confirmed.
LaRavia agreed to a two-year, $12 million contract. He earned $3,352,680 last season and will receive a substantial pay raise after moving to Southern California.
9 years younger and $9M cheaper 👀
The Lakers secured GREAT value on the Jake LaRavia signing 💯 pic.twitter.com/9EmXbjLxBS
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) June 30, 2025
The move should also suit the Lakers’ front office, who would have likely had to commit more than $10 million yearly to retain Finney-Smith to a long-term deal. Finney-Smith recently agreed to a four-year, $53 million deal with Western Conference rivals the Houston Rockets.
It is unclear which other teams were vying for LaRavia’s signature, but the gifted shooter was in high demand. LaRavia featured in 66 NBA games last season, averaging 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 0.9 steals over 20.4 minutes per game. He was extremely efficient shooting the ball, shooting 47.5% from the field and 42.3% from behind the arc.
LaRavia is expected to see significant minutes in JJ Redick’s offense. Listed at 6’7″ and 235 pounds, he is capable of guarding multiple positions and helping out in the post.
LaRavia has plenty of room to grow, and this could be a perfect fit for both parties. The Lakers added a young and talented shooter to a lineup that, at times, struggled to put points on the board. For LaRavia, the rapidly improving forward will finally get the opportunity to play a bigger role and prove his worth in this league.