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Recent Knicks Champion Center Leaves New York for Raptors
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- Recent Knicks Champion Center Leaves New York for Raptors
The New York Knicks' center depth will look a but lighter next season with the news that former Knicks' center Trey Jemison III is signing a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors , per a report from Chris Haynes .
Jemison III spent just one season with the Knicks, that being their championship winning 2025-26 season, and Jemison III didn't have much playing time with the Knicks, averaging just 6.3 minutes in 13 games while putting up 1.0 point, 1.4 rebound and 0.4 assists per game.
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Even in a thin center core, there wasn't much opportunity for Jemison III and that with the Knicks adding Andre Drummond to replace Mitchell Robinson after he signed with the Boston Celtics , that situation likely wasn't going to change anytime soon.
New York Knicks forward Trey Jemison III (50) looks to pass the ball against the Washington Wizards during the fourth quarter at Capital One Arena. Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images
What Jemison III Accomplished
Jemison III had a modestly impressive career in college with Clemson and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, including setting the single-season rebound record for the Blazers, but he hasn't been able to put it all together at the NBA level quite yet in three seasons, playing mostly in the G-League in a series of two-way contracts for five different teams.
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Without Jemison III, the Knicks' center depth looks increasingly thin. Beyond Karl-Anthony Towns and Drummond, the next best option for the Knicks at center is Mohamed Diawara , but beyond that, they don't have any other options at the five and have thin options at the four as well.
New York Knicks center Trey Jemison III (50) holds the ball while Indiana Pacers guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin (00) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Losing Jemison III to free agency is another factor rooting against the Knicks by depriving them of even more size, which makes pursuing at least two more centers or power forwards even more of a priority in the remainder of the offseason.
The Knicks' Thinning Depth
Even though Jemison III had barely any playing time for the Knicks last season, he likely could still have had a role on the starting roster simply because of the limited options that that the Knicks have at the five and now that the Knicks have lost both Jemison III and Ariel Hukporti to free agency, New York will have to act fast to address that roster void.
New York Knicks forward Trey Jemison III (50) controls the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Jemison III will be working from a very similar position next season that he was for the prior three seasons of his career, that being working on a two-way contract and looking to find his way to the NBA roster, but now the Knicks will have to pivot for the rest of the offseason and address their growing roster need at center.
