Two Wake Forest alumni are in the NBA offseason news cycle this week, with Jake LaRavia surfacing in a Lakers trade proposal and Alondes Williams securing a new contract in Washington.
LaRavia Floated in Lakers Blockbuster
Jake LaRavia's tenure in Los Angeles may be short-lived. The Lakers are reportedly exploring trades centered on acquiring a rim protector, and a recent prediction from The Sporting News has LaRavia — along with Dalton Knecht — packaged in a deal for a $36 million center. The Lakers have spent the summer actively trying to move Knecht, and LaRavia appears to be a potential sweetener in that effort.
LaRavia, a 2022 first-round pick, has bounced between Memphis and Los Angeles without ever fully cementing a rotation role. Whether this specific deal materializes or not, his name being attached to trade speculation suggests he remains on the roster bubble heading into training camp. For Demon Deacon fans, it's a familiar story — LaRavia has the tools, but a permanent home has been elusive.
Williams Gets His Shot in Washington
Alondes Williams won't be walking into a guaranteed roster spot, but he's in the door. The Wizards signed the 27-year-old Wake Forest product to an Exhibit-10 contract, a deal that allows him to participate in training camp without counting against Washington's 15-man roster. Crucially, it also locks in his G League rights for the organization.
Williams has now exhausted his two-way contract eligibility, making this Exhibit-10 essentially a prove-it opportunity at the highest level. The Wizards — deep in a rebuild — are a reasonable landing spot for a developmental player looking to earn a standard deal. If Williams impresses in camp, a conversion isn't out of the question. If not, he'll likely headline Washington's G League affiliate.
The Broader Wake Forest Picture
Beyond this week's headlines, Wake Forest's NBA footprint remains notable. John Collins and Bobi Klintman are both on the Pistons roster, Chris Paul continues to hang on with the Clippers, and Hunter Sallis is with Philadelphia's 76ers. James Johnson remains with Indiana, and Ishmael Smith is in Charlotte. The Deacons have quietly built a respectable pipeline to the pros — it just doesn't always come with guaranteed minutes.
For LaRavia and Williams, this offseason is a crossroads moment. One is fighting to stay in the league's top tier; the other is fighting to break into it.
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