The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to add a new center and improve their wing depth for the 2025–26 season
But before making external moves, they also need to decide what to do with their own developmental players—specifically, their two-way contract big men from this past season: Trey Jemison and Christian Koloko.
Guard Jordan Goodwin, who started the year on a two-way deal, was converted to a standard contract before the 2025 NBA Playoffs. That leaves Jemison and Koloko as the focus.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, Jemison is expected to return as a two-way player, while Koloko could earn a standard NBA deal this offseason.
Jemison is actually still under contract as a two-way, and I think the Lakers will be bringing him back as a two-way guy,” Buha noted in a recent Q&A session. “That makes sense. They signed him to a 2-year two-way deal, so he’s a guy who I would bring back and see how he continues to develop
Koloko, meanwhile, will be a restricted free agent if the Lakers extend a qualifying offer—which Buha believes they will.
“I think it would be a mistake to let him walk without at least trying to retain him,” Buha said. “Koloko makes sense as a 14th or 15th guy on the roster, a third center. And Jemison fits as a two-way guy. I think both guys would tentatively be back.
Jemison played a limited role in the regular season, appearing in 22 games and averaging 2.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.4 blocks per game. Koloko played in 37 games, averaging 2.4 points and 2.5 rebounds.
During the 2025 playoffs, the LA Lakers had just two true centers—Jaxson Hayes and Alex Len—both of whom underperformed. As a result, the team went centerless for most of its first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
