The Los Angeles Lakers will not be rocking the boat as they head into the playoffs.
Dave McMenamin of ESPN reported on Tuesday that Lakers two-way centers Trey Jemison III and Christian Koloko were left off the playoff roster, having not been converted to standard contracts by the team before the end of the regular season. McMenamin notes that Jemison and Koloko are still practicing with the Lakers but will both be ineligible to play during the postseason.
Jemison, 25, was a solid energy piece for the Lakers earlier in the year, averaging 2.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in just 10.3 minutes per game while the likes of Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt were injured. Koloko, 24, also had similar numbers with 2.4 points and 2.5 rebounds in 9.2 minutes per game for the Lakers this season.
A couple weeks ago, the Lakers converted another two-way player, guard Jordan Goodwin, into a standard contract and waived veteran wing Cam Reddish to do so. As a result, Goodwin, who carved his way into the normal rotation towards the end of the regular season, will himself be eligible for the playoffs.
McMenamin adds that the Lakers “liked the chemistry of the group” that closed out the season for them and wanted to keep the dynamic going in the playoffs. Since converting Jemison or Koloko would have required them to waive another player or two, the Lakers have decided not to do that.
Surprisingly enough, that means that the Lakers are keeping center Alex Len, who has given them next to nothing since coming aboard in February and was expected to be waived for one of the two-way guys. It also goes without saying that Bronny James, who was on a standard contract all along this season, made the playoff roster as well.
