The Los Angeles Lakers made three signings in the 2025 offseason, but Rob Pelinka’s biggest move was inking Jake LaRavia to a two-year deal worth $12 million in total. Sadly, the purple and gold should be looking to move after LaRavia was played off the floor in the playoffs. He was benched entirely after Game 2 of their second round series against Oklahoma City, and the Thunder aren’t going anywhere. The Lakers want to win a championship, so it's time to move on from LaRavia.
Los Angeles signed Deandre Ayton to a bigger contract, but he chose the Lakers after his buyout. Ayton wanted to win and play with Luka Doncic. Sharing an agent with number 77 helped.
The Lakers superstar actively recruited Marcus Smart, so Pelinka’s biggest move was signing LaRavia. The 6’7 forward appeared in all 82 regular-season games and has a versatile skill set. There were positive moments, but LA has to be focused on playoff impact. LaRavia couldn’t stay on the floor, which makes the Lakers' decision easy.
Jake LaRavia should be done with the Lakers after one season
LaRavia played in Los Angeles’ first eight playoff games, but the struggles were real. He averaged just 3.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 14.3 minutes per game. The purple and gold were outscored by ten points with him on the floor. His playing time was an even bigger problem against OKC, so head coach JJ Redick replaced him in the rotation with rookie Adou Thiero.
The Lakers need more talent around Luka to win a championship. OKC’s depth destroyed LA. LaRavia is on a $6 million expiring contract. Rob Pelinka should have no issues trading him for someone who helps the team win in the biggest moments.
It is an offseason of uncertainty for the Lakers. They want to put more shooting and defense around Luka. They have to sort out the futures of Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard, and Jaxson Hayes. Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart have player options that could further complicate things. Los Angeles doesn’t want to waste Luka’s prime. Expect them to be aggressive in upgrading their roster via free agency and trade.
Fans shouldn’t be surprised if LaRavia is sent packing. His energy and effort were impactful, but the Lakers want a better shooter and defender to play his role moving forward. The 24-year-old still has room to grow, but the Lakers can’t wait. They want to win now and need role players who are ready to contribute.
This is not the first Rob Pelinka move to go bust. He traded for Russell Westbrook. Pelinka signed D’Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent, Christian Wood, and several other disasters. At least, the Lakers got a productive regular season out of LaRavia. It was a worthwhile swing, but sadly, Pelinka whiffed on this one.
The Los Angeles Lakers should move on from Jake LaRavia after one season. Being removed from the playoff rotation for a rookie who barely played during the regular season told fans everything. LaRavia wasn’t impacting winning. That alone is enough for the Lakers to move on. They want to help Luka win a ring, and that only happens if LA improves their depth. It is time for Rob Pelinka to admit his mistake and move on. That is all the Lakers can do at this stage.
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