Golden State Warriors' second-round pick in this year's draft — guard Lajae Jones — has signed with Italian club Pallacanestro Trieste on Monday.

The No. 54 selection out of Florida State, Jones, will play out the upcoming campaign in Italy's Lega Basket Serie A after he failed to impress the Golden State brass enough to earn one of the three two-way contracts given out ahead of training camp. 

The Warriors will retain Jones' rights if he decides to return to the NBA.

Jones was the youngest player on the Warriors' roster this offseason, and it became apparent fairly quickly that he may still be some ways away from being able to contribute — even in the G League. 

The 22-year-old didn't stand out the way Golden State was hoping he would in the Summer League — prompting the Warriors to sign three other players from the same championship squad to two-way deals.

Undrafted rookie big man Graham Ike filled the last two-way spot yesterday, all but spelling the end of Jones' journey with the franchise — for now. 

Jones came into the league after averaging 12.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and one block per game at Florida State in 2025-26. He shot 42.7 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from three in his final year.

None of the good, however, translated to the Summer League level immediately. He tallied just 8.7 points per game while not shooting, rebounding, or defending particularly well.

The numbers are not a damning reflection of Jones by any stretch; they just suggest that it may not yet be his time to be in the NBA. A year of development in Europe, away from the bright lights, could serve him well.

The Warriors found themselves in a situation where they had a ton of candidates for just a few spots on the fringes of the roster. That came on the back of an impressive Summer League triumph in Las Vegas.

Undrafted second-year guard LJ Cryer was a no-brainer for a two-way deal. He continued his development in the summer after already having contributed to Golden State's main roster last year with 8.2 points per game. 

Undrafted third-year power forward Malevy Leons earned the second two-way contract. He impressed the Warriors with his willingness to crash the glass and his ability to slash relentlessly on offense. Both are qualities that Golden State believes will translate to the NBA should Leons' number get called.

Despite not being the biggest center, at 6-foot-9, Ike dominated the interior all summer for the Warriors, clinching the final two-way spot on the roster. He averaged 10 points, 7.2 rebounds, and one block over a span of nine games.

Ike fills what has been a pressing need for the Warriors: a dominant and physical inside presence. As a result, there is a very clear path towards regular playing time for the Gonzaga alum.