The Lakers Sign Jake LaRavia, Finney-Smith to Houston... Are Lakers Thinking About 2027?

Day 1 has come and gone, and the Lakers were quiet on the transaction front Monday, as free agency opened (officially) across the NBA. 

Two big moves that impacted the team directly. First, Dorian Finney-Smith left (as was becoming apparent), heading to Houston on a four-year deal. That's more than the Lakers wanted to offer the 32-year old forward, which is understandable. They quickly responded by signing forward Jake LaRavia from Sacramento for two years at $12 mil (or so). LaRavia isn't as accomplished as DFS, but is also a decade younger and is coming off an upside semi-breakout season, the first where he's had access to consistent playing time. 

LaRavia, at the least, defends some on the perimeter, and can shoot (42% last season). 

After that? Crickets. 

That said, free agency isn't over, the Lakers have some money left to spend, and are rumored to be very much in play for center Deandre Ayton, who can't sign with another team until he clears waivers after his buyout in Portland, and De'Anthony Melton, who (if healthy) would add real perimeter D to the rotation. That, given the dollars available to spend, would be a decent outcome. The Lakers would need to find a few other parts, but would have gotten younger, added a little D, and found a center (albeit a risky one). 

Will it happen? 

Or are the Lakers falling back into a common trap? It's reported they're trying to maintain maximum flexibility for the summer of 2027. Yes, not next summer, but the one after that. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

 

SEGMENT 1: DFS out, LaRavia in. 

SEGMENT 2: What are the Lakers doing next? 

SEGMENT 3: Are the Lakers looking at '27? 

 

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