Lajae Jones Signed With Italian Club Pallacanestro Trieste

The Golden State Warriors will retain the NBA draft rights to the 54th overall pick.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Basketball

Lajae Jones Signed With Italian Club Pallacanestro Trieste

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Is it a good career move for a draft pick to develop skills by playing overseas?

Lajae Jones has signed a contract with the Italian basketball club Pallacanestro Trieste following his release from Golden State Warriors roster contention. The Warriors retain his draft rights as he moves to the Lega Basket Serie A.

Why it matters

The move allows the young prospect to gain professional experience abroad while remaining part of the Golden State developmental pipeline. The Warriors organization intends to monitor his progress throughout the upcoming season.

Jones averaged 12.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.0 blocks over 33 games during his senior season. He joins a club that holds five historical Italian league championships.

The players

Lajae Jones

He is a professional basketball player selected as the 54th overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft.

Golden State Warriors

This is a professional basketball franchise based in San Francisco that competes in the National Basketball Association.

Pallacanestro Trieste

This is an Italian professional basketball club based in Trieste that competes in the Lega Basket Serie A.

Malevy Leons

He is a basketball player signed to one of the three available two-way contract spots by the Golden State Warriors.

L.J. Cryer

He is a basketball player signed to one of the three available two-way contract spots by the Golden State Warriors.

The details

After the Golden State Warriors filled all three of their available two-way contract spots with Malevy Leons, L.J. Cryer, and Graham Ike, Jones was released from potential roster contention. He previously participated in the NBA Summer League with the Warriors before finalizing his move to the Italian professional circuit.

Lajae Jones was selected in the 2026 NBA draft.
Jones signed with Pallacanestro Trieste in September 2026.
Pallacanestro Trieste won its last league championship in 1940-41.

Season Trajectory

The decision to send Jones abroad highlights the rigid limitations of the two-way contract system in managing prospect depth for the Golden State Warriors. By retaining his draft rights, the team preserves its future flexibility while prioritizing current roster spots for Leons, Cryer, and Ike.

The Golden State Warriors have now filled all three of their designated two-way contract spots with other players, closing the door on Jones for the immediate upcoming season. Fans and fantasy analysts should note that Jones will not be appearing on the active NBA roster for the current campaign.

The takeaway

When NBA teams reach their two-way contract limits, international leagues provide a valuable bridge for development. Players like Jones can continue to refine their skills in competitive European environments while staying within their drafting team's future plans.