The Lakers signed their next great connector in free agency

Jake Laravia signed with the Lakers on a 2 year 12M deal. His skill set brings a connective two-way piece to the team for next season.

Heading into free agency, the Lakers had several needs to address.

Most of the speculation suggested the first move would be at their bare center position. Instead, after bracing for the loss of Dorian Finney-Smith in free agency, they quickly changed course by making their first call to Jake LaRavia before agreeing to a two-year deal. He slots in immediately as a two-way connective wing you need around superstars.

LaRavia, in his third NBA campaign, averaged 6.9 points and 3.9 rebounds in 20.4 minutes per game. He started the season in Memphis before being moved at the trade deadline to Sacramento.

When you picture the offensive style of a modernized basketball player, LaRavia’s game matches that description. Illustrated in the chart below, it shows a clear diet of shot attempts in the paint and 3-pointers, with little in between.

According to the NBA’s tracking data, LaRavia attempted just ten mid-range shots last season, which suggests a player with a high level of self-awareness about their game.

For starters, he’s a legit outside shooting threat as he knocked down 42.3% of his 3-pointers, ranking ahead of any player on LA. Where he adds unique value is finding open spaces to get relocation threes and skillfully catching on the move before his feet are set.

Notice below how he fakes the curl on one side and catches while backpedaling to the opposite corner for three.

The Wake Forest product is adept at shooting on dribble hand-off actions as well, punishing teams for going under or getting caught up on a screen, as his defender does in the example below.

On low volume, per NBA’s tracking data, he scored an efficient 1.18 points per possession on dribble hand-offs, placing him in the 88th percentile.

Having a motion shooter that defenses respect keeps the offense going and creates a flow that was missing in LA’s attack last year. These low-energy-expenditure offensive actions are crucial in creating easy points.

The Lakers are counting on the percentages remaining steady or dropping only slightly with increased volume, as 2.2 3-point attempts per game isn’t enough to have the shooting impact LA hopes LaRavia can add.

Head coach J.J. Redick aimed for the Lakers to get teams into the blender — or in rotation defensively — which is the extension of the offensive advantage through multiple quick shots, passes, and drive decisions.

This is an area in which LaRavia excels. His reads are instant, never letting the ball stick in his hands. He attacked closeouts decisively with strong drives to the basket. Off the catch in the corner, he attacks the closeout and finishes in the clip below.

LaRavia completed an efficient 67.3% of his shots at the rim last season. He has an underrated handle and combines that with good strength to get downhill consistently.

He demonstrates a good spatial understanding of where to find teammates, whether around the rim at the dunker position on his drives or kick-outs for threes, adding 2.4 assists per game.

On the defensive end, he brings the same offensive smarts with him when he crosses half-court. The 23-year-old has excellent hands and lives in passing lanes with 1.7 steals per game.

LaRavia accounted for 2.2 deflections per night, which would have ranked second on LA last year. That’s impressive considering the low amount of minutes he played.

LaRavia doesn’t rack up many blocks, but has sound technique chasing over and giving back pressure against defenders with his size.

LA had power forwards such Rui Hachimura moving up to play the three. LaRavia moves with the smoothness of a legit small forward, adding the versatility to defend multiple positions.

He isn’t a great athlete and can have some trouble against overpowering opponents on both ends. On defense, it can show up against bigger players on switches, but he makes up for it with good timing and positional understanding

On offense, in spots of self-creation, he can struggle maintaining space. Alongside shot creators such as Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves, that will be less of a concern.

It’s the opportunity every shooter dreams of in terms of shot quality and being a play finisher. He’ll have secondary and tertiary roles in attacking compromised defenses, serving as an important connector in LA’s offense.

The Lakers signed LaRavia to a two-year, $12 million deal, getting good value and a bet that with more opportunity, his numbers would increase to make him a key contributor on a winning team.

It’s a good bet, as he brings an entirely malleable and adaptable offensive game that looks clear to connect with their stars. His ability to shoot effectively on catch-and-shoot opportunities, off the move, and solid defense serve as a positive addition for the Lakers in free agency.

You can follow Raj on Twitter at @RajChipalu.