Memphis Grizzlies front office executive Zach Kleiman held his postseason media availability. Among the topics discussed were things Kleiman could have handled different. One mistake made was declining the team's 2025-26 fourth-year rookie scale team option for forward Jake LaRavia, which ultimately led to LaRavia being traded.
"I think we should’ve picked up Jake LaRavia’s team option," Kleiman said. "The mistake was there. I think Jake could’ve helped us down the stretch."
Kleiman went on to say he thought Vince Williams Jr. and GG Jackson would be more ready to replace LaRavia in the Grizzlies rotation.
"I probably overweighted just how much of a burden they would have been able to put on in a playoff push," Kleiman said.
LaRavia will now be an unrestricted free agent this summer, after finishing the season with the Sacramento Kings. Because Memphis declined the rookie scale team option, the restriction on paying LaRavia more than $5.2 million in first-year salary carries over to Sacramento.
