Lakers use final training camp roster spot on Demetrius Jackson

The Los Angeles Lakers have used their final 20th and final training camp roster spot on Demetrius Jackson, the team announced on Tuesday. Jackson, a 6-foot-1 point guard out of Notre Dame, was the No. 45 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

While the terms of the deal were not released, per team policy, it’s likely that Jackson’s contract is an Exhibit 10 deal, which would allow the Lakers to waive him and then sign him to their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, with a bonus of up to $50,000.

The 24-year-old has bounced around the league quite a bit over the last three seasons, with stops in Boston, Houston and, most recently, Philadelphia. The 76ers signed Jackson to a two-way contract in January of 2018 and brought him back for a second look last summer.

Jackson showed flashes in the G League with the Delaware Blue Coats, having averaged 19.4 points and 7.4 assists per game, but it wasn’t enough for him to earn meaningful minutes with the parent team. As a result, Jackson was released by the Sixers to pursue a contract in China in January.

Jackson made his way back overseas in July to play with the Portland Trail Blazers in summer league. Through five appearances with Portland, Jackson averaged 6.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 16.6 minutes per game. Although his numbers weren’t eye-popping, he showed enough to get an invite from the Lakers.

Jackson will need to figure out his 3-point shot, among other things, before he gets another NBA call up, but his elite athleticism and ability to push the pace in transition makes him worth taking a closer look at.

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