Jake LaRavia’s $12 Million Los Angeles Lakers Deal Sparks Debate as One of Offseason’s Most Questionable Contracts: Splash or Summer Slip-Up?

The Los Angeles Lakers made headlines early in the 2025 offseason by signing Jake LaRavia to a two-year, $12 million contract. While the move initially raised eyebrows, it has since drawn sharper criticism, with many insiders now placing the deal among the offseason’s most puzzling signings.

With analysts divided, the discussion around LaRavia’s value and fit in LA continues to grow louder.

A Closer Look at Jake LaRavia

At 23, Jake LaRavia has already bounced between several NBA franchises. Originally the 19th overall pick in 2022 by the Timberwolves, he was immediately traded to Memphis and later moved again to Sacramento before entering free agency this summer. He’s long been considered a prototypical “3-and-D” wing—a role modern NBA teams highly prize.During the 2024–25 season, split between the Grizzlies and Kings, LaRavia posted:- 66 appearances- 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game- An efficient 47.5% field goal shooting, including 42.3% from beyond the arcDespite these solid shooting splits, Jake LaRavia hasn’t yet established himself as a regular starter or high-impact contributor.

What the Los Angeles Lakers Paid—and Why It Raised Eyebrows

The Los Angeles Lakers made LaRavia their first major free agent signing, handing him a fully guaranteed two-year deal worth $12 million—slightly above the taxpayer mid-level exception.

That contract immediately triggered a hard cap for LA, significantly tightening their financial flexibility.This move also filled the roster spot vacated by Dorian Finney-Smith, who left for Houston on a four-year, $53 million deal. While Finney-Smith brought more experience and defensive pedigree, the Los Angeles Lakers opted for youth and upside.However, several league executives and commentators have ranked LaRavia’s deal among the least valuable of the summer, criticizing the contract’s size relative to the player’s career output.

Key Concerns From Around the League

- Overpay for a Role Player: Critics say $6 million annually is too much for someone who has yet to prove himself as more than a rotational piece.- Cap Space Consequences: Triggering the hard cap for a relatively unproven player has many questioning the Los Angeles Lakers’ cap management strategy.- Better Alternatives Ignored: Some analysts argue that more experienced, playoff-tested wings were available at comparable or even lower price tags.A Western Conference executive summed it up bluntly: “The Lakers may have paid top dollar for a player best suited as an eighth or ninth man on a contender, rather than a key contributor.”And another insider noted: “It’s a classic gamble on upside, but the cost could handcuff LA’s front office if LaRavia fails to break out next season.”

The Los Angeles Lakers’ Perspective

Despite criticism, LA sees significant potential in Jake LaRavia. His youth, size, and ability to knock down threes offer qualities the front office values under new head coach JJ Redick.Rob Pelinka, Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations, defended the move: “Jake is a high-IQ two-way player… We think Jake has significant basketball upside, which will be honed nicely in our Lakers basketball development program.”From a team-building standpoint, LaRavia helps address two long-standing issues: three-point shooting and defensive versatility. At just 23, the Lakers believe there’s plenty of room for growth—and they’re betting he’ll flourish in their system.

How LaRavia Compares

To better understand the skepticism, here’s how LaRavia stacks up against similar players signed this offseason:

While Jake LaRavia boasts a better shooting percentage than both Finney-Smith and Reddish, his overall production and impact still leave much to be desired.Also read: Damian Lillard Returns to Portland Trail Blazers on Three-Year, $42 Million Deal Featuring No-Trade ClauseThe Los Angeles Lakers’ acquisition of Jake LaRavia is a high-stakes play on future development. With limited experience but promising shooting, he could emerge as a key floor-spacer in Redick’s system—or end up as a costly misfire that limits LA’s options moving forward. Whether this deal becomes a savvy investment or a cautionary tale in cap management will depend entirely on LaRavia’s growth in the seasons ahead.

For now, the spotlight is firmly on him as one of the most debated contracts of the summer.