One of the most viral stories of the first hour of NBA free agency had more to do with two of the top NBA reporters instead of the news they were actually reporting.
ESPN’s Shams Charania and veteran NBA reporter Chris Haynes both reported Monday that forward Jake LaRavia had agreed to a two-year, $12 million contract in free agency. Charania, however, reported that LaRavia was heading to the Los Angeles Lakers, while Haynes said he was re-signing with the Sacramento Kings.
LMAO wait what??? pic.twitter.com/hwXYubkJr0
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) June 30, 2025
Many X users quickly joked that Charania and Haynes were already engaged in a “source-off.”
WE GOT A SOURCE OFF pic.twitter.com/RQSNlyeDd5
— Keenan (@Nittanylion02) June 30, 2025
Charania ended up being right. Haynes eventually confirmed that LaRavia was headed to the Lakers, not the Kings.
Free agent forward Jake LaRavia has agreed to sign with the *Los Angeles Lakers on a two-year, $12 million deal, league sources tell me. pic.twitter.com/50VIq719Oi
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 30, 2025
It is not exactly the RapSheet-Jordan Schultz showdown, but it provided some entertainment for fans on the first day of free agency.
As for LaRavia, he averaged 6.9 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in a reserve role for Memphis and Sacramento last season. He figures to be part of the Lakers’ rotation next year.
