Lakers Make Bold Move Signing Jake LaRavia to Two-Year Deal as They Bet on Hustle, Upside, and Floor Stretching Potential

The Los Angeles Lakers have made another calculated, under-the-radar addition to their 2025-26 roster, locking in forward Jake LaRavia on a 2-year, $12 million deal. LaRavia, who’s spent his young NBA career with the Sacramento Kings, is officially swapping out the purple beam of the Golden 1 Center for the flashing cameras and star-studded spotlight of Crypto.com Arena.

On paper, this move may not send shockwaves through NBA circles. LaRavia isn’t a marquee free agent. He’s not a perennial All-Star, a walking triple-double, or the type of player that dominates headlines during the offseason frenzy. But smart basketball fans—and perhaps more importantly, smart front offices—know that championship teams aren’t built solely on superstar talent. They’re often defined by those unheralded, overlooked pieces who swing playoff games when the stakes are highest.

The Lakers’ brass clearly believe Jake LaRavia could be one of those pieces.

LaRavia, a 6-foot-7 wing, brings the exact combination of youth, hustle, versatility, and untapped upside that LA is craving. After yet another season where the Lakers’ supporting cast struggled to consistently produce behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis, GM Rob Pelinka has prioritized finding complementary pieces who can stretch the floor, guard multiple positions, and inject energy into the rotation.

LaRavia, just 23 years old, fits that mold.

Drafted 19th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2022 before being dealt to Memphis and eventually landing with Sacramento, LaRavia’s NBA journey has been defined by potential glimpses more than steady production. In limited minutes with the Kings last season, he averaged 5.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per game while shooting 37.8% from three-point range—a respectable clip for a young wing still adjusting to the league’s pace and physicality.

What caught the Lakers’ attention wasn’t just LaRavia’s numbers, though. It was his intangibles—the relentless work ethic, the high basketball IQ, and his willingness to buy into a role without ego.

In other words, he’s hungry—the exact mentality this veteran-heavy Lakers squad desperately needs injected into its rotation.

The move to LA offers LaRavia a much-needed fresh start. While Sacramento provided opportunities in spurts, his role never fully crystallized amid the Kings’ playoff push and crowded wing rotation. The Lakers, by contrast, are handing him a defined opportunity: come in, defend, stretch the floor, and bring the kind of scrappy, high-motor energy that can change the tone of a second unit or even swing crucial playoff minutes.

For the Lakers, the timing is critical. LeBron James recently opted into his $54.6 million player option, signaling his commitment to at least one more season in the purple and gold. But with the 40-year-old James approaching the twilight of his career, every roster decision is made with urgency. The championship window is still cracked open, but the Lakers understand that depth, youth, and versatility behind their aging stars are vital for staying competitive in a brutal Western Conference.

LaRavia might not be the flashy, big-name acquisition Lakers fans dreamed of when free agency opened, but history shows us that role players often emerge as postseason heroes. Think back to Alex Caruso’s defensive impact during the 2020 title run or the emergence of players like Austin Reaves, who transformed from an undrafted free agent into a core piece for LA.

The Lakers are betting LaRavia could follow a similar trajectory.

His skill set aligns perfectly with what head coach Darvin Ham wants from his role players. LaRavia offers size on the wing, reliable perimeter shooting, and the switchability needed to defend the versatile offensive weapons found across the Western Conference. He’s also unafraid to get physical on the glass, contest shots, or dive for loose balls—exactly the kind of hustle plays that ignite home crowds and shift momentum in tight games.

Off the court, the move to Hollywood represents a significant lifestyle and professional transition for LaRavia. Coming from the passionate but comparatively low-profile Sacramento market, he now finds himself under the intense media glare of Los Angeles—a city where every game is analyzed, every player is scrutinized, and the expectations are sky-high.

But if history is any indication, LaRavia welcomes the challenge.

His collegiate days at Wake Forest were marked by a rapid rise from under-the-radar prospect to NBA first-rounder. Those who know him best describe a relentless worker who embraces adversity, studies film obsessively, and constantly works to refine his game. The Lakers’ player development staff is confident that, with the right structure and mentorship, LaRavia’s best basketball is still ahead of him.

That upside is precisely what makes this $12 million investment feel like a calculated risk worth taking for LA.

Financially, the deal is team-friendly, preserving future flexibility while potentially unlocking a high-value rotation piece. For LaRavia, it’s an opportunity to prove he belongs—not just in the NBA, but on the roster of one of basketball’s most storied franchises, with its banners, legends, and history looming overhead at every home game.

And for Lakers fans? There’s reason for cautious optimism.

Every year, new cult heroes emerge. Players who weren’t the focus of flashy press conferences but who earn fan love through gritty performances, clutch shots, and defensive stands. In LA, names like Derek Fisher, Trevor Ariza, and even more recently, Reaves, all etched themselves into Laker lore—not because they were stars, but because they delivered when the lights shone brightest.

Could Jake LaRavia be next in line?

Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure: the Lakers are making moves with intent, blending veteran leadership with youthful hunger, and they see something in LaRavia worth betting on.

As training camp approaches, all eyes will be on Crypto.com Arena to see if Jake can seize this opportunity. The Lakers need wings. They need defenders. They need floor spacers. They need energy guys who play with purpose.

Jake LaRavia is officially in LA LA Land.

A fresh start. A golden opportunity. And maybe, just maybe, the chance to become the next unexpected Laker fan favorite.