The Los Angeles Lakers are no strangers to tough decisions when it comes to shaping their roster for championship contention, and Trey Jemison III might be one of those decisions looming large. The 26-year-old center, who signed a two-way contract with the Lakers last year, hasn’t made the kind of impact the team was hoping for, and as the season inches closer, it’s becoming painfully clear that he might not be part of the Lakers’ future.
What last season looked like:
In his limited appearances last year he played in 38 games split between the Pelicans and Lakers. Jemison averaged just 2.5 points and 2.8 rebounds in around 10 minutes per game. These numbers aren’t going to move the needle for a Lakers team that struggled mightily with rebounding and defending the paint last postseason. In their first-round exit to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers were thoroughly outplayed in the paint, with Minnesota dominating the boards and controlling the interior. It’s one of the key weaknesses the team is working hard to fix, and Jemison’s inability to make a difference in this area puts his spot on the roster in serious doubt.
To address these issues, the Lakers have already added Deandre Ayton to strengthen their frontcourt, a move that gives them a proven force down low. They’ve also locked in Jaxson Hayes as a backup, making Jemison’s chances of sticking around even slimmer. With Ayton slated to start and Hayes taking on a steady backup role, Jemison is now further down the depth chart, which makes his path to consistent playing time all the more difficult.
Jemison does not fit the Lakers timeline
He stands at 6'11" and weighs 270 pounds. He has the physical tools to compete and he has shown flashes of his potential, particularly with his hustle and rebounding instincts. But his overall game still lacks polish. His offense is unrefined, his defense inconsistent, and his foul rate remains a concern. And when you add his poor free-throw shooting (41.7%), it becomes even more apparent that he’s not quite ready to provide the stability the Lakers need from their bigs.
As much as the Lakers may appreciate Jemison’s energy and hustle, they’re at a point where they can’t afford to keep him around. With so many other areas of the roster still needing attention, keeping Jemison simply does not make sense for them.