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2025 Free Agents - Trayce Jackson-Davis

Despite being a late-second round pick in 2023, Jackson-Davis ended up making a real impact for the Warriors as a rookie, getting consistent playing time and even starting 16 games. He's a skilled center that has enough athleticism to make up for him being undersized at just 6'9". Offensively, Jackson-Davis was a dominant post scorer in college. That won't be his role going forward in the NBA, but he still uses that skill on occasion, particularly against mismatches or on quick duck-ins when he can get deep position. It also helps him as a finishes in pick-and-roll. Jackson-Davis shot 76% at the rim and 48% from floater range as a rookie, both very good numbers. It's unlikely he will ever be able to extend his range, and he only shot 55% from the free throw line as a rookie. He shot around 68% from the line in college though, so he's probably better than his rookie year suggested. Jackson-Davis has good vertical pop as a lob-threat and good hands when catching passes. He also would occasionally fake a handoff and drive for dunks, including a couple poster dunks as a rookie. He is a little bit left hand dominant, and will need to work on going to and/or finishing with his right. He is also a very good offensive rebounder. Defensively, Jackson-Davis will usually be giving up a few inches to other centers, but he is strong and can battle in the post. He had high block numbers in college, and that continued during his NBA season as a rookie. He's mostly a drop defender but he can get out and move his feet on the perimeter at times. You wouldn't want him in a full switching scheme, but if he has to switch he isn't automatically cooked, especially late in the clock where he only has to hold up for a few seconds. Jackson-Davis will already be 25 years old as a potential free agent in 2025, so he's not really a young prospect, and is quite a bit older than most players in his class. However, he has already shown the ability to contribute. I think Jackson-Davis could carve out a career for himself as a high-level backup center, or possibly even a starting center.

Summary

Jackson-Davis' $2.2 million salary for 2025-2026 is non-guaranteed, and if he is waived he will become an unrestricted free agent and the Warriors will have no form of Bird rights on him. If he is waived, teams could claim him off waivers, but would need to fit his salary within cap space or an exception to do so, as his contract doesn't fit within the minimum salary exception as it was a four-year contract. If Jackson-Davis becomes a free agent, other teams will have multiple ways to sign him as even teams without cap space could use any of the Non-Taxpayer MLE, Room MLE, Taxpayer MLE, or Bi-Annual Exception to sign him. If Jackson-Davis is waived and clears waivers, his value will likely have dropped low enough that he would only have offers for the minimum.

Cap Considerations

Nick Richards (3-1 years, $15 million, 2022) Jaylin Williams (3rd year non-guaranteed minimum not waived, 2024) Charles Bassey (1 year minimum, 2024)

Player/Contract Comparison

Potential Teams: Warriors

Predicted Contract: Not waived: $2.2 million

Last updated: 9/28/2024

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