Lakers, Jake LaRavia Reportedly Agree to 2-Year, $12M Contract, Updated Salary Cap

Free agent Jake LaRavia has agreed to a two-year, $12 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The forward averaged 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists last season. He was traded to the Sacramento Kings in February.

Prior to this deal, the Lakers had the ability to use both the $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception and the $5.1 million biannual exception, per ESPN's Bobby Marks. However, utilizing either would trigger a hard cap at the first apron. As it stands, Los Angeles sits $19.7 million below that threshold.

LaRavia’s two-year, $12 million contract comes in just above the $11.7 million limit tied to the taxpayer mid-level exception, meaning the Lakers are now officially hard-capped at the $195.9 million first apron, per CapSheet.com's Yossi Gozlan. Similarly, the bi-annual exception—valued at two years, $10.5 million—would have also triggered the same hard cap restriction.

LaRavia was selected No. 19 overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2022 NBA Draft out of Wake Forest. He enjoyed a breakout sophomore season in Memphis, posting career highs with 10.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.

On June 19, nearly 11 days before his deal with the Lakers was official, LaRavia appeared on the Front Office Show for an interview from his car — who revealed a special guest.

“What are your thoughts on potentially joining the Los Angeles Lakers?” host Trevor Lane asked during the interview. LaRavia then panned the camera over, revealing Reaves in the driver’s seat.

“Austin, put in a good word for us, please,” Lane said.

Reaves laughed and responded, “You ain’t even gotta worry about it. I got it.”

If plans were already in motion, the pair kept things tightly under wraps — but now, the duo is officially reunited on the West Coast.