The Lakers are likely to bring back two-way players Trey Jemison and Christian Koloko next season, Jovan Buha of The Athletic said in a recent video Q&A session (YouTube link, hat tip to BasketNews).
Jemison signed a two-year, two-way contract in January, so Buha expects L.A. to keep him as one of its three two-way players. The 25-year-old center had some productive moments in his 22 games with the Lakers, averaging 2.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 10.3 minutes per night while shooting 61.9% from the field. He also spent time with New Orleans last season and had brief stints with Washington and Memphis in 2023/24.
Koloko, who’ll turn 25 this week, joined the Lakers in September after overcoming a blood clot issue that forced him to sit out the 2023/24 season. He appeared in 37 games, averaging 2.4 points and 2.5 rebounds in 9.2 minutes per night and shot 60.6% from the floor. Koloko will become a restricted free agent if the Lakers submit a qualifying offer, which Buha expects them to do.
“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.”
The Lakers’ other two-way player from this season, Jordan Goodwin, was promoted to a standard contract in late March. There was speculation that Jemison or Koloko might join him to become eligible for the playoffs, but L.A. opted to keep veteran big man Alex Len, who made two brief appearances in the first-round loss to Minnesota. Coach J.J. Redick played without a center for long stretches as the series wore on.
Buha addressed a few other topics in the video, stating that Jazz center Walker Kessler is probably unrealistic as a trade target and suggesting veteran point guard Chris Paul as a free agent addition on a veteran’s minimum contract.