How 2022 NBA Draft prospect Jake LaRavia could help the Cavs
By Dan Gilinsky
LaRavia could be a notable catch-and-shoot threat if the chances arise
LaRavia played his first two collegiate seasons at Indiana State, where he had 9.4 points and 5.9 rebounds then 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in 24.6 and then 29.2 minutes per contest in his freshman and sophomore years with Indiana State. LaRavia was one of several former Sycamores to transfer following coaching changes, but at least for him, the move to Wake Forest was a solid decision, and he looks to be maybe an impact offensive wing/forward in the NBA.
LaRavia had 14.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest in 34.2 minutes per game in his junior season with the Demon Deacons, and connected on 38.4 percent of his three-point attempts, albeit on 2.2 per game.
He’s a player that could feasibly be a quality catch-and-shoot presence for the Cavaliers that could help out the likes of Darius Garland, potentially Collin Sexton/Caris LeVert and others as a player they could spray passes to via skip feeds or dishes to the corners.
When his feet are set, LaRavia has the capability to be a knockdown-type guy off-the-catch, and while that wasn’t a huge part of his game at Indiana State, necessarily, there’s reason to believe he could be a legit spacer at the next level.
His release is smooth and the release point is a positive, too, and he has a clean stroke, so looking onward, if Cleveland selected him, perhaps at #39, I’d think he could maybe be Cedi Osman‘s long term replacement down the road. He could dispatch Dean Wade, perhaps, but Wade’s defensive expertise I could foresee making him more viable in lineups with LaRavia, as an aside.
Him connecting on 77.9 and 77.7 percent from the foul line the last two seasons is reason for spacing optimism, too, paired with his shooting mechanics when he’s set.
From there, although LaRavia is not a player that I’d imagine would be an especially notable driving or shot creation presence, he is a terrific cutter, finishes well and can make plays as a point-forward-type guy.