Jake LaRavia Discussion: Lah-Rave-E-Ya!

The kid hasn’t missed a game, which is remarkable. He really needs a week of rest. Maybe getting off his feet will restore that broken jumper of his. We’re gonna need him if this team has any intentions of making a deep playoff run.

 

I love him. For me he has a place in the roster for years to come. It's the type of guy you need as your 10th guy, a plug and play guy that fights hard and knows his place.

On the shooting slump, he's a young guy getting his first year in a contender team. Takes time to adjust to the pressure, the accountability, the scrutiny, the role. He knows how to shoot, that shot will come around.

He still affects the game in other ways. He's not currently a starter or a key role player, he's exactly what you expect in the 6M contract range and that's good

 

Agree with everything except he’s not a key role player. He’s one of our best defenders and has been in every game this year including many as a starter …. when needed.

 

all this. even considering his shooting woes, he's outperforming his contract. he may not be a top-8 playoff guy, but he's a 9-10 regular season guy. and he's a high motor, team-first, high iq guy. if he played for boston, they'd be building a statue, lol.

 

Never lost faith in him!

Guy goes out and plays hard. The coaching staff are giving him huge minutes right before playoffs time.

 

Great game by Jake tonight. He is only 24, he can still get better, become more consistent and level out as a top tier role player.

When he has a good game like tonight, he reminds me a bit of Shane Battier.

 

This dude is cheeks.

 

so funny that he just badly missed a couple threes, then the one he hits is a contested hot potato at the end of the clock that looks better than his open shots. it's purely in his head.

 

NO

 

yeah, i still think he's a solid 15-20mpg 9th/10th guy. good hoop iq, tough, plays hard all the time, legit size for a sf. i think he'll get the shot straightened out.

 

His game aint pretty, but he's pretty effective on the defensive end. Solid steals and blocks guy over the course of his career (1.6 and 0.6 per 36). This year, Jake is 14th in deflections per game among forwards (3.0). He looks messy on the offensive end though. I know this is hard to convey quantitatively, but he just seems clumsy on offense, and often just can't finish plays. Similar to Vanderbilt in that regard. I mean he's athleticish, but not enough to be counted on as a lob threat. He's not a reliable outside shooter. Not sure if it's worth it to keep him in the game. I mean, he is a big strong body- he has good size for his position- but just sort of tweeneish- just and akword fit if that makes sense. If he were taller, he would be used as a 5, put it that way. Same as Vando. I had him as a C on offense and a C+ on defense, being one of the better two-way players on the team. But, he's more of a D and B. Similar to Vando, who is an F and A. We need better two-way players. If he figures out his shot, he would be a solid rotation player.

 

Or …. at his young age still, if he improves his pretty aggressive handles (for his size) (likes to attempt AR type stuff) and get his 3 ball back to a decent % by next season (I think both are doable this off season) …. then he slots even higher than 9-10(?) and can fill in as a starter when needed.

 

LaRavia is still young, still has potential to improve. He's already a good wing defender. But he is also trade ballast too.

 

Yeah I'm not penciling in anyone in any spot, other than Luka as the best player on the team. I am perfectly fine with Jake as an 8th/10th guy but if he needs to be in a trade to acquire a legit starter I have no problem moving him either.

 

For everyone beating the drum about strong 2-way players with size … and durable/available …. no way should he be considered ballast or filler at his young age and dirt cheap salary. IMO

 

well, if he does figure things out, he'll only be cheap next year. but yeah, i'm not just throwing him out there to get off salary or something.

but if a starting caliber player that fits with luka/AR and is in his mid-20s is available, jake is available from my side, no problem.

 

I mean he's a solid player for his age and price. But, Lakers are not gonna hold out to keep him. He's an expiring 6 million dollars. Him and Knecht create a solid 10-million expiring slot for some team wanting to dump salary.