NBA teams are each permitted to carry up to three players on two-way contracts; at any given time there could be a maximum of 90 players on two-way deals around the league. These players generally bounce back and forth between the NBA and G League, but remain under team control and can’t be poached by rival franchises.
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While we can expect the NBA-wide total to hover at or near 90 for much of the regular season, many teams have yet to fill all of their two-way slots for the 2025/26 campaign. That isn’t surprising, since we’re still about five weeks away from the start of training camps and two months away from the beginning of the regular season.
As our 2025/26 two-way contract tracker shows, 14 NBA teams still have open two-way spots for a total of 18 two-way openings. Two more are reportedly spoken for — Timberwolves restricted free agent guard Tristen Newton is expected to sign his two-way qualifying offer and Branden Carlson is expected to complete a two-way deal with the Thunder.
Here’s the current breakdown of the two-way openings across the league:
Teams with multiple open two-way slots
- Golden State Warriors (2)
- New York Knicks (3)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (2)
Some of these spots may already be spoken for. As we noted above, Carlson is expected to sign a two-way contract with the Thunder. The Warriors have a two-way qualifying offer on the table for Taran Armstrong, while the Knicks (Kevin McCullar Jr.) also have a two-way restricted free agent who has yet to sign.
Some of these clubs also have second-round picks from this year’s draft who look like logical candidates for two-way spots. Golden State selected Alex Toohey at No. 52 and Will Richard at No. 56 — it would be a surprise if at least one of them doesn’t end up on a two-way deal. New York has yet to sign No. 51 pick Mohamed Diawara, though he’s a candidate for a standard roster spot, as we discussed earlier this month.
Teams with one open two-way slot
- Brooklyn Nets
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Dallas Mavericks
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Miami Heat
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Orlando Magic
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Utah Jazz
- Washington Wizards
Minnesota’s inclusion in this section is likely a formality, since Newton is reportedly returning on a two-way deal. Utah also has yet to sign No. 53 overall pick John Tonje, who could be earmarked for the Jazz’s last two-way spot.
There’s not a single clear-cut candidate for all of these openings though, so agents whose clients are seeking an 18-man roster spot will likely reach out to these clubs to see how they intend to use their third two-way contract slots.
Players with NBA experience who sign Exhibit 10 deals for training camp are also candidates to monitor, since some of them are also eligible for two-way deals and could be converted before the season begins. Colin Castleton (Orlando) is a recent example of a player who fits this bill.
Teams with no two-way openings
- Atlanta Hawks
- Boston Celtics
- Charlotte Hornets
- Chicago Bulls
- Denver Nuggets
- Detroit Pistons
- Houston Rockets
- Indiana Pacers
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Milwaukee Bucks
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Phoenix Suns
- Sacramento Kings
- San Antonio Spurs
- Toronto Raptors
In theory, these 16 teams are good to go for training camp. In actuality, several of them could make two-way changes both before and after camps begin.