Pallacanestro Trieste is racing against the clock to secure international clearance and visa documentation for American player Lajae Jones ahead of the team’s Serie A championship opener against Olimpia Milano, scheduled for Sunday at 16:00 local time (UTC+2) at the Forum di Assago.
The Race for Lajae Jones’s Debut
The club’s management has been working through administrative channels to finalize paperwork for the 2004-born rookie, who recently signed with the Italian side after being selected 54th overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 2026 NBA Draft. According to reports from Il Piccolo cited by Pianetabasket.com, Jones has been in direct contact with the embassy to secure his visa in order to board the earliest available flight to Italy, with club officials maintaining optimism that he could arrive at Ronchi Airport.
Even if Jones arrives in time for Sunday’s tip-off, his immediate deployment remains uncertain. Accounting for transatlantic travel, jet lag, and zero prior team practices under head coach systems, deploying the rookie against Armani Milano carries significant sporting risks. However, ongoing roster constraints could prompt the technical staff to utilize him for limited minutes in Assago.
Roster Compliance and the Addition of Emanuele Martucci
To avoid rushing the search for a starting center and to comply with league regulations, Pallacanestro Trieste completed the registration of young Italian player Emanuele Martucci. The Lega Basket mandates that clubs submit ten professional contracts ahead of the league’s opening weekend to prevent potential disciplinary sanctions.
By registering Martucci alongside primary contributors, Trieste’s traveling squad for Milan features Ross, Galloway, McDermott, Jones, Ruzzier, Deangeli, Canka, Candussi, Paiano, and Martucci. This brings the club’s total to six registered Italian players, preserving tactical flexibility should the team opt to adopt the 6+6 roster formula later in the season.
General Manager Michael Arcieri on the Signing of Jones
General Manager Michael Arcieri detailed the profile of the rookie out of Florida State University, highlighting his background across collegiate programs including Tarleton State, Barton Community College—where he won a JUCO national title and earned Finals MVP honors—and St. Bonaventure before his senior campaign with the Seminoles.
“Lajae possesses a combination of puro talento cestistico, forza fisica, potenza ed esplosività, e versatilità di ruolo che raramente si trova in un singolo giocatore,” Arcieri stated in official club communications reported by BasketMarche.it, describing him as a versatile component for “basket senza ruoli” (positionless basketball). Arcieri also confirmed that Trieste will coordinate player development efforts with the Golden State Warriors staff throughout the season.
During his final collegiate season in the ACC with Florida State, Jones averaged 12.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.0 blocks across 33 appearances, earning a spot on the All-ACC Second Team and a selection in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Next Steps
Pallacanestro Trieste will complete its final preparations ahead of Sunday afternoon’s opening fixture against Olimpia Milano, while general manager Michael Arcieri continues evaluating the player market to finalize the roster’s starting center position.
