Report: NBA planning to lift restrictions on two-way contracts

NBA insider Shams Charania has reported that the NBA plans to remove the 50-game limit on all two-way contracts for the remaining season and postseason. This move will essentially open up an additional two roster spots on all NBA teams. Many teams have found themselves shorthanded as their players have battled the COVID-19 pandemic and injuries.

This has been a move long in the works, as the NBA was reportedly flirting with the idea of adding an additional roster spot or two to NBA teams a few months ago. The idea was circulated about but never came to fruition as it was believed that many teams wouldn’t utilize an additional roster spot due to salary cap reasons in a weak economy. The solution of using two-way contracts to fulfill extra players doesn’t effect a team’s salary cap as each contract has a fixed amount in place in terms of pay.

This move makes two-way contracts much more valuable, as there are no playing restrictions on them.

The Sixers currently have two players under two-way contracts: Paul Reed and Rayjon Tucker, both of whom are currently in the G League bubble. Reed and Tucker have been putting together impressive stats while leading the Delaware Blue Coats to an 8-4 record.

Paul Reed has been a focal point for the Blue Coats as he’s been one of the best players in the G League this season. Through 12 games, he’s put together impressive averages of 21.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2.1 steals, and 2 blocks per game with stellar shooting splits: 57.8 field goal percentage, 43.5 three-point percentage (on an average of 3.8 attempts!), and 73.3 free throw percentage.

Reed has been a pleasant surprise for the Sixers/Blue Coats. He was viewed as a project player coming out of the draft possessing a lot of physical and intangible skills that needed some development. He’s been a terror in the G League on both sides of the basketball and may be more NBA ready than most people originally thought.

Rayjon Tucker, the other two-way contract Sixer, has also been impressing early in the G League bubble, averaging 20 points per game to go along with 4.4 assists.

The idea of Tucker or Reed getting rotation minutes becomes much bigger of a possibility with this move made by the NBA. Reed in particular has been turning heads, and might be able to get spot minutes here and there, especially if COVID and/or injuries make a return to the team.

“Bball Paul” might be making the anticipated return to the Sixers in the near future. Liberty Ballers will keep you updated with any and all news involving transactions between the Sixers and Delaware Blue Coats.