Training camp for the 2025-26 NBA season is approaching, and while the Los Angeles Lakers may not have a legitimate championship-caliber roster, they do appear to have one that can do some real damage.

They have a number of players who seem to have upward potential, and if those players improve and fulfill their potential this season, perhaps the team can pleasantly surprise quite a few national pundits.

LeBron Wire is taking a look at the 14 players who are under standard contracts with the Lakers and giving three goals for each player. We now take a look at Jake LaRavia, an up-and-coming 6-foot-7, 235-pound forward whom the Lakers signed in July.

Become an excellent man-to-man defender

In his three prior seasons in the NBA, LaRavia established himself as a disruptive defender who can generate steals and deflections. But the Lakers badly need two-way role players, and it would greatly help if he became a legitimate 3-and-D player.

He should be able to effectively guard more than one position, but some improvement when it comes to guarding wings rather than big forwards would be welcome. Rui Hachimura has trouble guarding wings, and LeBron James, with all the wear and tear he has accumulated, shouldn’t be expected to be L.A.’s main defensive stopper on the perimeter.

Increase volume of 3-point attempts

Last season, LaRavia became a definite 3-point sniper. He hit 42.3% of his attempts from beyond the arc, which is an elite level of efficiency in the NBA.

But he took 2.2 3-point attempts a game overall and 3.8 of them per 36 minutes, which isn’t a ton. Lakers head coach JJ Redick, who was a great 3-point shooter during his playing days, clearly wants the team to be a high-volume 3-point shooting team. That means LaRavia needs to up his 3-point attempts to around five, at a minimum, per 36 minutes, without sacrificing any real accuracy.

Attack in transition

Another need the Lakers have is speed and athleticism, not just on the defensive end but also on offense. They could use players other than James who can streak downcourt in transition and finish fast breaks in strong fashion.

LaRavia isn’t an elite athlete, but he has a strong motor and consistently plays hard. It would be great if he looked to sprint downcourt on every potential transition opportunity in order to get more easy baskets and fatten up the Lakers’ scoring average and overall efficiency.