Kings let the wrong player walk in the offseason (and he's making them pay for it)

The Sacramento Kings have consistently made mistakes when it comes to young talent. Jake LaRavia, who was with the Kings for a hot minute last season, is now becoming a key bench player for the Los Angeles Lakers. And every time he kills it on the court, it dumps a bit more salt in the wound.

It's safe to say that LaRavia is having a solid season. He had a career performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves last week. Then, he followed it up against the Heat with 25 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and four steals. Plus, his shot percentages are insane.

On a Lakers team led by Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, LaRavia has become a reliable option off the bench who can keep the game moving. Plus, he works incredibly well with both Doncic and Reaves as well as Rui Hachimura and Jaxon Hayes. It has left Sactown fans wondering why he left.

LaRavia heads south

In 2022, LaRavia was drafted 19th overall by the Timberwolves but was quickly traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. He remained there until February 2025, when a three-team trade sent him to the Kings. That only ended up lasting a few months before he made his way south to Los Angeles.

The Grizzlies had declined his fourth-year option, which greatly limited what the Kings could offer him after the trade. Apparently, the highest amount they could offer him was $5.1 million. The Lakers showed up with a two-year contract worth $12 million, a sizable increase.

That wasn't his only consideration. With the acquisition of Doncic and the rise of players like Reaves and Hachimura, the Lakers were more likely to be contenders in the near future. The Lakers are currently 3rd in the Western Conference while the Kings are 13th, so it's a fair point.

What this means for the Kings

When it came to keeping LaRavia on the roster, the Kings' hands were tied by league rules. They weren't able to outbid the Lakers for his services. He was also in Sacramento to witness the chaos of the 2024-2025 season, so that probably wasn't a good selling point on staying.

The LaRavia situation essentially summarizes the Kings' problems in trying to rebuild the roster and retain young talent. They have a limited salary cap to work with, they are not perceived as contenders, and they lack stability at all levels.

If Sacramento wants young talent to want to play for the Kings, and not just see it as a stepping stone in the league, they need to make some serious changes. That will take time, and a lot of focus. Hopefully, that's part of Scott Perry's long-term planning.