Milwaukee Bucks Draft Scouting Report: Jake LaRavia – Weaknesses
Self-Shot Creation
Even though LaRavia was an efficient performer for Wake Forest from all 3 levels, shot creation could be a problem in the league for him. He was able to score most of the time on his back downs, but he had to resort to post ups and use his size because he didn’t display a very wide arsenal of moves. He likely will not be able to get away with that at the next level. LaRavia is a very good set shooter, but on the move, not so much. The good news for him is that he has enough strong suits on offense to overcome this, and he probably won’t be the type of guy that relies on self-creation a lot, but it is always very beneficial to be able to do.
Quickness/Athleticism
Although LaRavia displayed mobility in the shuttle run and lane agility drills, quickness could put a stint on LaRavia’s success in the league. He did not have that burst of speed that you see in a lot of upcoming NBA prospects. Overall, I wouldn’t call this a weakness in LaRavia’s game, but instead a question.
Unwillingness to shoot
LaRavia did have some substantial scoring games last year, but looking at his game log, it was either a big game with efficiency, or a game where he barely attempted any shots. This is something to watch with LaRavia. Sure, he won’t be called upon to be shooting the rock at high volume, but you don’t want players passing up open looks or opportunities.
Outlook
Like I said before, there are a lot of avenues Milwaukee can take with the 24th pick, and Jake LaRavia would be a pretty solid pick for the Bucks if he’s available. He isn’t the “ideal” pick for Milwaukee, but he’s close to it. With potential on both ends, I could see LaRavia carving out a substantial role in the NBA as a role player or complementary player. Anyone with a lethal catch and shoot jump shot has the potential to make a considerable impact on the team, since the one and only Giannis Antetokounmpo hunts out 3-point shooters so well.
Grade for Milwaukee Bucks: B
The NBA Draft takes place on June 23rd, stay tuned for analysis on who the Milwaukee Bucks end up selecting.