The Toronto Raptors are fortifying their center depth by signing Trey Jemison III to a two-way contract.
Jemison, who turns 27 in November, has three years of NBA experience. He has bounced around the league with the Washington Wizards, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Lakers, and most recently the New York Knicks, who just won the NBA championship back in June.
To learn more about Jemison’s profile as a prospect, we spoke with New York Knicks On SI contributor Kento Kato.
Jemison didn’t play much for the Knicks last season. Why was that the case?
Trey Jemison III walks towards New York Knicks fans while holding the NBA Cup Trophy. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Jemison was buried in the depth chart. Karl-Anthony Towns struggled at times but was the the key to winning them a championship. Mitchell Robinson didn’t play in back-to-backs but did play 60 games during the regular season and was pivotal for much of them. And even in the games where he wasn’t available, Ariel Hukporti served as a capable regular season replacement. Jemison was more of a break in case of emergency center, and was deployed as such.
What is Jemison’s biggest strength?
His physicality. Jemison is a very physical center who is not afraid to use his body on either side of the ball. He’s as much of an old school enforcer as you’re allowed to be these days and sets very solid screens, which may not seem like a big deal, but is still a dying art.
What is Jemison’s biggest weakness?
Jemison’s lack of skill definitely caps his ceiling. He isn’t a floor spacer, isn’t a ball handler, and isn’t a passer. That pretty much limits his contributions to hustle plays and defense.
Can Jemison turn into a rotation big in the NBA?
I do. But I think it only happens under very specific circumstances. He’d have to back up a workhorse of a center like Nikola Jokic, who averaged 34.8 minutes per game last season, and do so on a team that could even play small ball or have other options at the position. Besides a scenario like that, I think he’s stuck being an end of the bench depth piece unless he takes a massive leap as a shooter.
It remains to be seen what Jemison will become with the Raptors. Bringing him in gives him a shot to compete at a position the Raptors need some depth in. That alone should give him the opportunity to vie for minutes.
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