The Detroit Pistons don’t need to make sweeping changes to their roster but could use a backup power forward and Jake LaRavia might be the guy.
After the Grizzlies declined his team option and traded him to the Kings, LaRavia will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and named the Pistons as a preferred destination according to a recent interview with Basketball Insiders.
And there may be mutual interest, as the Pistons are more likely to improve around the fringes rather than disrupt their core, and LaRavia could be a nice fit on a team-friendly contract.
Detroit Pistons free agency: Jake LaRavia
LaRavia is not a guy who is going to blow you away with elite athleticism or big numbers, but he’s a versatile power forward who can do a little of everything.
LaRavia shot 42.3 percent from long range this season between Memphis and Sacramento and he’s a good passer who can act as a connector and make plays from the wing. He’s also a crafty finisher around the rim, hitting over 70 percent of his shots in the restricted area for the Kings.
Think of him as a jumbo wing, a poor man’s Deni Avdija, as LaRavia put up good all-around numbers in 20 minutes per game for Memphis, averaging 7.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 49 percent from the floor and 44 percent from long range, numbers that would look great behind Tobias Harris.
I wrote recently wrote that the Pistons should be looking to upgrade the Simone Fontecchio spot in the rotation and LaRavia would represent that, as he’s a better defender and offers more than just shooting. Tek is pretty much just getting cardio when he’s not making shots, while LaRavia is a better rebounder, defender and passer who is also considerably younger.
LaRavia is still only 23-years-old, so has room to improve and could be one of those players who becomes an elite glue guy off the bench or shows more in an expanded role.
He’s likely to get some amount of attention in free agency, but with so few teams with cap space, he’ll be an afterthought and a guy the Pistons might be able to snatch up on a team-friendly deal just by making an early offer.
I’m on record many times as saying the Pistons don’t need to chase stars, but it would also be foolish to run it back with the exact same team when they have clear deficiencies. Depth at the power forward spot is one of them and LaRavia could offer a versatile solution at a discount price.