The Toronto Raptors added another body to an already packed frontcourt, signing veteran center Trey Jemison III to a two-way contract as camp approaches.
It’s the kind of move that doesn’t grab headlines on its own, but it does tell you exactly where Toronto’s priorities are right now: size, competition and options. With center matchups potentially shaping the team’s playoff outlook, the Raptors are making sure they have enough bigs to survive different looks.
Jemison doesn’t arrive with a locked-in role. He does, however, bring something Toronto clearly values - a dependable interior presence who can fight for minutes at the back end of the rotation. With Jakob Poeltl and Trayce Jackson-Davis already under contract, this is more depth play than headline swing.
What Jemison offers is pretty straightforward. He’s earned minutes with several teams by rebounding, protecting the rim and doing the dirty work on defense.
The offense is limited, but that doesn’t mean he’s empty calories on the floor. Hard screens and paint defense matter, even if they don’t always show up in the box score.
That fits the Raptors’ needs. Even if he never cracks the regular rotation, he gives Toronto another true center to throw at bigger lineups when the situation demands it. He also gives the team a little insurance if injuries hit during the season.
There’s another layer here, too: Jemison arrives with NBA playoff experience after winning an NBA championship with the New York Knicks this past season. For a roster still sorting through its pieces, that kind of depth addition carries value.
The competition for minutes is already crowded. Jakob Poeltl, Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram(or Kawhi Leonard) are projected to be in the starting five, while Collin Murray-Boyles, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Jamison Battle, newly signed Kyle Anderson and rookie first round pick Allen Graves will all be trying to carve out bench roles.
So Jemison’s road won’t be simple. But if he can make his mark defensively and show he can handle backup center duties behind Poeltl every night, he gives himself a real shot to stick.
At the very least, Toronto now has more than one option behind its starting center. And for a team still figuring out what its young core can become, that kind of low-risk move makes sense.
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