Jake LaRavia joins LA Lakers on two-year, $12 million contract: Report

Jake LaRavia is set to join the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-year, $12 million contract, ESPN reported Monday. The versatile forward adds valuable depth and athleticism to the Lakers’ frontcourt.

LaRavia, known for his defensive tenacity and ability to stretch the floor, is expected to bring energy and complementary scoring off the bench.

The Lakers are set to sign LaRavia using a portion of their $14.1 million midlevel exception, which became available following Dorian Finney-Smith's departure to the Houston Rockets, according to ESPN. Finney-Smith agreed to a four-year, $53 million deal with Houston on Monday.


The 32-year-old Finney-Smith recently underwent surgery on his left ankle to address lingering discomfort, sources told ESPN. With Finney-Smith moving on, the Lakers quickly pivoted to add the 22-year-old LaRavia to bolster their wing depth.

LaRavia has agreed to a two-year deal with the Lakers after showing strong late-season form with the Sacramento Kings. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 8.6 points on 48.1% shooting - including an impressive 43.9% from three - along with 3.3 rebounds over 12 games in March, finding his rhythm after being acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies in a trade deadline deal.

Known for his tenacious defense and underrated playmaking ability, LaRavia drew interest from multiple teams but ultimately chose the Lakers, viewing them as the ideal fit for his development and long-term potential.