5 Young players the Grizzlies should develop, 1 to give up on
By Tyler Watts
Give up: Jake LaRavia
The Grizzlies traded up to draft LaRavia at 19th overall in 2022. He was not a top recruit coming out of high school and played two years at Indiana State before transferring to Wake Forest. His all-around game helped him vault up draft boards, and Memphis made him a top-20 selection after his junior season.
The starting small forward job was wide open to begin last season with Ja Morant suspended. LaRavia battled for minutes but came up short. It was not until the Grizzlies were way out of contention that the 22-year-old finally got consistent run.
Over the final 21 games, LaRavia averaged 15.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 steals in 29.5 minutes each night. He shot 40.3 percent from the field and 37.7 percent on his 3-point tries. The efficiency is questionable, and LaRavia struggled to offer anything but scoring. He had a negative value over replacement player (VORP) in his first two seasons as he struggled to impact winning.
The Grizzlies should prioritize other talents. Jake LaRavia is owed $8.5 million over the next two seasons combined. There is no reason to cut him, but Memphis should not be clearing minutes for him. Hopefully, the 22-year-old can drastically improve and prove he belongs, but fans should not bank on it.