The Los Angeles Lakers experienced a productive weekend.
After hiring former Duke coach Justin Robinson to help with their player development on Saturday, the organization announced major free agency news involving a 23-year-old, 6-foot-7 forward.
“OFFICIAL: Jake LaRavia — Laker,” the Lakers wrote on X/Twitter Sunday.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka later provided his thoughts on the free agency signing.
“Jake is a high-IQ two-way player with ideal skills for a JJ Redick basketball system,” Pelinka said. “He’s a disruptive defender who uses his size and physicality to create turnovers. Offensively, he can score at all three levels and has a knack for creating space for himself and his teammates.”
The Lakers initially inked a deal with LaRavia last Tuesday.
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At the collegiate level, LaRavia spent two seasons with Indiana State and one with Wake Forest before declaring for the 2022 NBA Draft.
The Minnesota Timberwolves drafted the Pasadena, California native with the No. 19 overall pick, but later traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies.
LaRavia struggled as a rookie but started to find his groove as a second-year contributor, averaging 10.8 points per game on 38.9% field goal shooting and 34.0% three-point shooting.
This past season, the 6-foot-7 forward began the year with the Grizzlies but was involved in a midseason trade that sent him to the Sacramento Kings.
LaRavia contributed 6.9 points while connecting on 47.5% of his field goals and 42.3% of his triples with the Grizzlies and Kings.
If LaRavia can serve as an adequate floor spacer and competent defender in Los Angeles, he’ll likely receive a vital role with the franchise next season.
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