Prior to this offseason, NBA teams were limited to carrying two players apiece on two-way contracts, meaning there could never be more than 60 players on two-way deals across the NBA.
Currently, there are 65 players on two-way contracts, but 25 slots remain available. That’s because the new Collective Bargaining Agreement increased the two-way limit from two players to three, raising the league-wide maximum from 60 to 90.
A few teams have still moved fairly quickly to fill all three of their two-way contract slots, but others are taking their time, leaving a spot or two open even after the conclusion of Summer League as they continue to weigh their options. Those clubs may be more inclined to invite a small group of players to training camp on Exhibit 10 contracts and then convert the standout(s) to a two-way deal.
With the help of our two-way contract tracker, here are the details on which teams still have two-way slots available:
Two two-way slots available:
- Golden State Warriors
- Los Angeles Clippers
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Phoenix Suns
Every team in the NBA has signed at least one player to a two-way contract – or carried one over from last season – but these five clubs still have a pair of two-way slots open.
For what it’s worth, the Suns won’t have a G League affiliate for the 2023/24 season, so of these five teams, they’re the best bet not to fill all three of their two-way spots.
One two-way slot available:
- Atlanta Hawks *
- Boston Celtics
- Brooklyn Nets
- Dallas Mavericks
- Detroit Pistons
- Houston Rockets
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Miami Heat *
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Minnesota Timberwolves *
- Orlando Magic
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Sacramento Kings
- San Antonio Spurs
- Washington Wizards
The teams marked with an asterisk (*) still have a two-way qualifying offer on the table for a restricted free agent and would have three full two-way slots if those QOs are accepted. Those RFAs are Trent Forrest (Hawks), Jamal Cain (Heat), and Matt Ryan (Timberwolves).
The other 12 of these 15 clubs simply have a pair of players on two-way contracts and one open slot.
All two-way slots filled:
- Charlotte Hornets *
- Chicago Bulls *
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Denver Nuggets
- Indiana Pacers
- Los Angeles Lakers
- New York Knicks
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Toronto Raptors
- Utah Jazz
Because two-way contracts don’t count against the cap and feature such modest guarantees (no more than $75K until the start of the regular season), there’s still plenty of flexibility for these 10 teams that have filled all three of their two-way slots. If they decide there’s another player they want to bring in on a two-way deal, they’d simply waive one of their current guys.
That may be especially necessary for the Hornets and Bulls, who still have two-way qualifying offers on the table for Theo Maledon and Terry Taylor, respectively. If Maledon and Terry accept their QOs, Charlotte and Chicago would have to waive a two-way player, since they wouldn’t be permitted to carry four at a time.
GSW gotta fill their last 2 spots with bigs to battle the Nuggets. The only way to beat Jokic is to use fresh-legged bigs who can body on him tagging in and out on him all game to wear him down. He runs riot in 4Q all the time because no one uses this method on him. He’s beating any 1 or 2 guys, but you have to use more.
Names. That “can body on him…to wear him down”. And please, Wood is NOT an acceptable answer. Names.