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.