Even before they traded Anthony Davis and Max Christie to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic, the Los Angeles Lakers were thin at the center position. One way they attempted to plug that hole was by signing Trey Jemison III to a two-way contract in January.
Jemison, 25, stands 6-foot-11 and weighs 270 pounds, and prior to coming to the Lakers organization, he had brief stints with the Washington Wizards, Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans organizations while going back and forth between the NBA and G League. He played his college ball at Clemson University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Jemison averaged 2.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.4 blocks in 10.3 minutes a game during 22 games with the Lakers. He shot 61.9% from the field and 41.7% from the free throw line.
Jemison brought plenty of hustle to a Lakers team that lacked defense, rebounding and grit. A good chunk of his rebounds came on the offensive glass, and at times, he also provided some shot-blocking and rim protection
In doing so, he showed flashes of potential. Arguably his best game came against the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 28, when he got six rebounds, blocked one shot and scored five points in 22 minutes. The Lakers won that game by a final score of 106-102.
Jemison did a good job of doing the dirty work, but he lacks offensive skills, and he isn’t a true monster defensively or on the boards. He had trouble guarding opposing centers one-on-one, and he also couldn’t stay out of foul trouble.
He averaged 1.9 fouls a game in his limited playing time with Los Angeles, and it wasn’t exactly uncommon for him to end a game with at least three fouls. Granted, referees tend to call backup big men for fouls more frequently, but Jemison will need to harness his energy and learn how to play effective defense and box out while minimizing how often he’s whistled for a foul.
Once the regular season ended, his two-way contract wasn’t converted into a standard deal, which meant he was ineligible to play in the playoffs. Some fans felt the team was wrong to make that decision, as it lost in five games in the first round to a big and rugged Minnesota Timberwolves squad, but he likely wouldn’t have made a difference.
Jemison is reportedly under contract for next season, and it wouldn’t exactly hurt the Lakers to keep him around, especially since his contract is so small. He can continue to be a developmental project for them, but fans should greatly temper their expectations for him, given his lack of raw skills and talent.
