Five NBA Two-Way Players Who Could Earn Standard Contracts
Written By Aryan Bhullar
As teams look to maximize their rosters, several players on two-way contracts have been making strong cases to earn standard contracts. Here are five players who are prime candidates for promotion:
1. Ajay Mitchell, Oklahoma City Thunder
Arguably the leading candidate for a standard deal, Mitchell has been a consistent contributor for the Oklahoma City Thunder. At 6-foot-5, the Belgian guard has proven to be a valuable rotation piece for a Thunder team currently leading the Western Conference with a 26-5 record. Selected 38th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft after a standout college career at UC Santa Barbara, Mitchell has averaged an impressive 6.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and nearly one steal a game. Oklahoma City could create room for Mitchell by waiving Branden Carlson, who is on a non-guaranteed contract. If Mitchell is promoted, keep an eye on Malevy Leons as a potential replacement on a two-way. Leons has caught the attention of Thunder officials with his strong performances for the Oklahoma City Blue, the team’s G League affiliate.
2. Brandon Boston, New Orleans Pelicans
The 23-year-old Boston, selected 51st overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, spent his first three seasons with the Clippers before being waived and picked up by the Pelicans. The decision to sign him to a two-way contract has proven to be a smart move, as Boston has played a significant role for a New Orleans team plagued by injuries. In 33 games, he has averaged 11.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.4 steals. While his shooting efficiency has been inconsistent, he remains one of the few players on the roster capable of creating offense for both himself and others. With only 14 players on standard contracts, the Pelicans will need to decide whether to promote Boston sooner rather than later. However, promoting Boston could be more complicated than it seems. The Pelicans are currently $1.4 million above the luxury tax, and given the team’s history of avoiding the tax, they are likely to make moves to cut costs and open a roster spot before converting Boston.
3. Jamison Battle, Toronto Raptors
An undrafted rookie from Ohio State, Battle has made an immediate impact for the Toronto Raptors, averaging 6.2 points and 2.0 rebounds, with an impressive 42.7% shooting from beyond the arc, the 23-year-old sharpshooter has carved out a role off the bench. While there’s a potential path for Toronto to convert Battle’s two-way deal to a standard contract, it would likely require them to part ways with a veteran, such as Bruno Fernando, who is on a non-guaranteed deal. The Raptors don’t need to make a decision on Fernando until the January 7 deadline.
4. Jordan Miller, Los Angeles Clippers
The second-year forward has shown versatility in his limited role with the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 5.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 14 minutes per game. A solid defender, Miller can drive, draw fouls, and create offense both for himself and others. With key injuries to players like Kawhi Leonard still ramping up to make his season debut, Miller has a major opportunity to carve out a more significant role in head coach Tyronn Lue’s rotation. However, the Clippers are hard-capped at the first apron, meaning a conversion may not happen until February, when the team could either waive someone from their roster or make a trade to create the necessary cap space.
5. Justin Champagnie, Washington Wizards
The 23-year-old Justin, was a undrafted forward from the 2021 NBA Draft class. Justin spent his first three years with the Raptors and Celtics before being picked up by the Wizards where he has been impressing with his all-around play. Despite not being selected in 2021, Justin has paved himself a great career so far at the verge of earning himself a standard NBA contract. He’s averaged an impressive 10.5 points and 7.0 rebounds for the Wizards this season in 26 minutes per game. As I’ve reported, Justin is a candidate to get converted after the trade deadline. The Wizards will likely look to deal their players first as we near February’s trade deadline before thinking about two-way conversions. His hustle and versatility make him a valuable asset off the bench as he continues to prove himself as a player.
As teams continue to evaluate their rosters, these players will be closely monitored for potential contract conversions. The remainder of the season will offer ample opportunity for these emerging talents to prove their worth and earn a place on standard contracts.
