Trey Jemison III isn't playing because he has been sick, and the LA Lakers are managing his two-way contract eligibility, leaving him with just seven games remaining before a decision must be made.
The Los Angeles Lakers have gone 13-2 this season with two-way center Trey Jemison III on the roster. However, he hasn't been playing recently. According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, there are several reasons for that.
"Trey Jemison has seven games remaining of two-way eligibility before the Lakers have to make a decision," Buha reported on his recent podcast. "JJ [Redick] acknowledged that's a factor that the Lakers are trying to navigate right now.
"Trey has been sick, which has helped them manage his games," Buha added. "They have 16 games left, so he can only be active in up to seven of them. The Lakers have to be diligent with how they use Trey Jamison and his availability."
So why haven't they signed him to a standard contract? The short answer: money.
Keeping Jemison on a two-way deal saves the LA Lakers cap space. However, he's expected to be converted to a full NBA contract by the end of the regular season, as veteran center Alex Len hasn't met expectations.
Jemison, 25, has averaged 2.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 15 games (11.4 minutes per game) with the Lakers. He started the season in New Orleans on a two-way contract, which is why his eligibility is running out.
After going undrafted in 2023, Jemison initially signed with Washington and later had stints with Memphis and New Orleans before landing in Los Angeles. Across 56 NBA games, he has averaged 4.6 points and 3.9 rebounds but has yet to appear in the playoffs.
The Lakers, currently the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference, hold a 41-25 record.
