Checking in on two-way contract slots around the NBA

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 they remain under team control and can’t be poached by rival franchises.

While we can expect the leaguewide 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.