Meet Jake LaRavia, LeBron James and Luka Doncic’s new Lakers teammate: career stats and contract info

The Los Angeles Lakers had a disappointing end to a season that was injected with hope after the trade deadline. The Luka Doncic trade wasn’t enough to get them to the NBA Finals and now it’s time to start constructing a team that can contend next year.

LaRavia heading to LA

One of the first moves of the offseason for the Lakers and their new owner Mark Walter was signing Jake LaRavia to add some size to the post on a team that was often undersized in the second half of the season. LaRavia spent last season with the Memphis Grizzlies before getting traded to the Sacramento Kings in February.

LaRavia was drafted in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2022 out of Wake Forest. He was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies during draft night, and spent three seasons with the Grizz. His first two seasons were split between the G-League and the NBA but in year two he averaged 10.8 pts and 3.7 rebounds in 35 games with Memphis.

His field goal percentage and rebounds went up but points went down with his minutes last year. He was traded to the Sacramento Kings at the deadline and finished the the end of the year scoring 6.1 points and 2.8 rebounds in 19 games with the Kings.

LeBron opts in for another year

He played some his basketball of the year at the end of the season, scoring 10+ in five of the last seven games for the Kings. Now the Lakers will have him for the next two years on a $12 million deal.

Related stories

NBA

Grizzlies tie down Jaren Jackson Jr. with max extension deal

NBA

Presti “almost insulted” at NBA’s injury pandemic 

The Lakers desperately needed size after trading away Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic. They tried to trade for Charlotte’s Mark Williams, but a failed physical sent the big man back to the Hornets, and they were left undermanned in the paint for the rest of the season.

LeBron James, who finalized the deal for his player option over the last couple days, is in the final stages of his career and is looking to make another chase to the title. LA will have to try to do it by spending very little with an already hefty pay roll for the upcoming season.