When the Los Angeles Lakers made the low-key move to acquire Jake LaRavia this offseason, it barely registered on the NBA radar. No fireworks. No breaking news. No prime-time Woj bomb. But just because a move isn’t flashy doesn’t mean it isn’t smart. And in a league where efficiency, shooting, and versatility have become gold standards, the Lakers may have struck some gold of their own. In fact, under the leadership of rookie head coach JJ Redick, LaRavia may just become one of the quietest, most impactful success stories of the season.
LaRavia’s name doesn’t often come up in conversations about young breakout stars. That’s partly due to his quiet path in the league so far. Drafted in the first round by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022, LaRavia struggled early to find his footing. Between injuries, a crowded rotation, and inconsistent minutes, his potential was more theory than reality. He showed flashes—smart cuts, a smooth shooting stroke, and a willingness to move the ball—but it was hard to string together consistent performances in limited roles. He was often overshadowed by bigger names, louder personalities, and teams more intent on short-term winning than long-term development.
That script, however, might be changing in Los Angeles. JJ Redick—new to the coaching world but already making waves with his emphasis on modern, movement-based offense—is quietly building a culture that values spacing, smart reads, and efficient shot-making. In that context, Jake LaRavia isn’t just a body to fill a roster spot. He’s a potentially perfect piece.
At just 23 years old, LaRavia has the kind of profile teams covet in today’s NBA. He’s 6-foot-7 with a quick release, above-average defensive instincts, and a motor that never stops running. While he’s not the kind of isolation scorer who fills up highlight reels, he thrives as an off-ball threat—cutting at the right times, rotating intelligently on defense, and most notably, hitting threes at an impressive clip.
Last season, LaRavia quietly put together the best stretch of his young career, shooting better than 42% from three across stints with both the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings. That number isn’t just good; it’s elite. And when you pair that with a system that values shooters and rewards floor-spacing, the potential impact becomes clear. In Redick’s scheme, where spacing and ball movement will be paramount, LaRavia could become a lethal option when defenses collapse on stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
What makes this more intriguing is Redick himself. A former NBA sharpshooter known for his elite off-ball movement and picture-perfect mechanics, Redick knows how to identify shooting talent. He knows what it takes to succeed in the margins—especially for players who don’t demand the ball but still shift defenses. If anyone can unlock LaRavia’s potential, it’s a coach who once made a career doing exactly what LaRavia is now being asked to do.
Reports from Lakers camp suggest that Redick sees something in LaRavia that other coaches may have missed. Not just a shooter, but a cerebral player who understands his role and can execute within the flow of the game. There’s even talk that LaRavia could crack the starting lineup early in the season. That kind of trust isn’t handed out lightly—especially not on a team with championship aspirations. It’s earned. And LaRavia appears to be earning it day by day.
For the Lakers, this kind of development is crucial. They’ve been hunting for the right mix of role players to complement their stars ever since their 2020 title run. While they’ve had some hits—like Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura—they’ve also whiffed on others. Building a sustainable contender requires more than just top-heavy talent. It requires role players who know their jobs and excel at them. Players who don’t need 15 shots a night to impact the game. Players like Jake LaRavia.
Of course, expectations should be tempered. LaRavia is still young, and even under ideal conditions, development isn’t linear. There will be rough nights—missed shots, defensive lapses, and stretches of low confidence. That’s part of the growth process. But the difference now is that he appears to be in a situation designed to help him grow through those moments rather than bury him for them.
That matters, especially for a player whose strengths are tied more to cohesion than chaos. LaRavia isn’t going to dominate SportsCenter or drop 30-point games on demand. But he might hit three timely triples in the fourth quarter of a playoff game. He might make the rotation-saving defensive switch that denies an open corner three. He might be the reason LeBron and AD have a little more space to operate. And in the postseason, those details often decide games.
Another subtle factor in LaRavia’s favor is his personality. By all accounts, he’s low maintenance. No ego. No drama. Just basketball. That fits perfectly with Redick’s culture-first approach. For a team navigating the always-intense spotlight of Los Angeles, having players who can handle the grind without demanding attention is vital. LaRavia fits that mold.
The Lakers’ front office should also get credit for seeing the long view here. In a summer where big-name trades and free-agent moves dominated headlines, they made a calculated gamble. They looked past the noise and focused on value. And if LaRavia ends up becoming a reliable two-way contributor, they’ll have pulled off one of the quietest steals of the offseason.
It’s also worth noting that LaRavia’s contract makes this even more appealing. He’s still on a rookie deal, which gives the Lakers flexibility elsewhere. In a league where roster-building is as much about cap management as talent acquisition, hitting on a player like LaRavia offers massive value. It gives them room to chase bigger moves while maintaining a stable supporting cast.
Ultimately, Jake LaRavia’s story is still being written. But the ingredients for a breakout are all there—youth, shooting, intelligence, and now, opportunity. In JJ Redick, he has a coach who understands his strengths and is motivated to build something new and lasting. In the Lakers, he has a platform bigger than anything he’s had before. And in himself, he has the tools and work ethic to seize this chance.
Sometimes the best moves aren’t the ones that dominate headlines. Sometimes, they’re the ones that quietly make teams better in ways that only become clear with time. Jake LaRavia may not be a household name yet. But if he keeps trending upward, that could change quickly.
Don’t be surprised if by midseason, we’re all asking the same question: how did the Lakers pull this off so quietly?
