Lakers desperately need Jake LaRavia to answer one burning question to contend

The Los Angeles Lakers don’t just need flashes from Jake LaRavia — they need answers. With legitimate championship aspirations, the franchise must determine whether LaRavia can truly be the reliable, high-impact wing they believed they were getting when they signed him this offseason.

The ability is obvious. The uncertainty lies in whether it can appear every night, especially when the stakes are highest.

Flashes of something bigger

Throughout the season, LaRavia has shown glimpses of a much higher ceiling. On Friday night against his former team, the Memphis Grizzlies, he delivered the clearest example yet of what his best version looks like.

LaRavia finished with 21 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block in 37 minutes, punctuating the performance with a clutch three-pointer late to seal a 128–121 win.

That version of LaRavia raises the Lakers’ ceiling in a very real way.

If Los Angeles is serious about contending, it cannot afford inconsistency. Occasional bursts are not enough — the Lakers need the energetic, versatile, do-it-all LaRavia on a nightly basis.

More than box score numbers

As a starter this season, LaRavia is averaging 11.5 points, six rebounds and 2.5 assists, but those numbers only tell part of the story.

With Rui Hachimura sidelined due to a calf injury, LaRavia has brought much-needed movement, effort and versatility to a lineup that has often lacked all three. He cuts decisively, sets solid screens, crashes the glass and defends multiple positions, all while creating space and opportunities for Luka Doncic and LeBron James.

Even when his shot isn’t falling, LaRavia continues to impact games — especially late, when execution, effort and awareness matter most.

Why the Lakers should not move him

The Lakers have been linked to potential trades for a 3-and-D wing, but LaRavia should not be included in those discussions.

At just 24 years old, in his fourth NBA season, with only 168 career games under his belt, his developmental arrow is still pointing up. He has already shown flashes of confident, two-way play that teams typically spend years trying to develop.

If Los Angeles needs to explore trades, Rui Hachimura could make more sense as a potential chip. Hachimura is having an excellent season, shooting 44.5% from three, but his skill set does not always mesh cleanly with the current starting group. Dalton Knecht is another name that could surface in trade talks.

LaRavia, however, provides something harder to replace: connectivity. When he is locked in, the Lakers look faster, more aggressive and more cohesive on both ends of the floor.

The question that defines the season

Friday night served as a reminder of why Jake LaRavia matters. When he plays with confidence and force, the Lakers resemble a team capable of closing games against elite competition.

Now comes the real test.

Can he sustain that level of impact consistently? If the answer is yes, LaRavia is no longer just a rotation piece — he becomes a legitimate reason the Lakers can compete for an NBA championship.