Tag: two-way contract

Report: Summer League star Daeqwon Plowden agrees to two-way contract with Warriors

The Summer League standout has reportedly earned a two-way contract with the Warriors.

As they’ve rattled off wins in the California Classic and the Las Vegas Summer League, one member has continued to impress on the Golden State Warriors Summer League roster,

Daeqwon Plowden has multiple double-figure scoring performances for the Warriors this summer, including a 26-point effort in Golden State’s blowout win over the Miami Heat at the California Classic in early July. Plowden is averaging 16.6 points per contest in the Summer League while shooting 48% from beyond the arc.

Following his impressive run in the Summer League, Plowden is rightfully being rewarded. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Plowden has agreed to a two-way contract with the Warriors.

Via @wojespen on Twitter:

Plowden will join Pat Spencer as players on two-way contracts with the Warriors for the 2023-24 season. On a two-way deal, Plowden will have the chance to play with the Warriors and their G League affiliate in Santa Cruz.

In 2022, Plowden went undrafted out of Bowling Green. While at Bowling Green, Plowden was named to the All-MAC second team and third team, In his final season, Plowden earned a spot on the MAC All-Defensive Team.

Plowden was later signed by the New Orleans Pelicans but was waived before the start of the season. He’s played in the G League with the Pelicans and Magic affiliates. He’s also played in the Summer League with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Gary Payton II, Juan Toscason-Anderson, and Lester Quinones are notable members of the Warriors who have signed two-way contracts in the past.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

OKC Thunder adds Alex Ducas to two-way deal

OKC Thunder adds Alex Ducas to two-way deal.

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced on Tuesday that they have signed undrafted rookie Alex Ducas to a two-way deal.

The 23-year-old spent five college seasons at Saint Mary’s from 2019-24. He averaged 9.9 points on 45.3% shooting, 5.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 34 games last season. He shot 43.8% from 3 on 5.4 attempts.

At 6-foot-7, 220 pounds, Ducas possesses plus size for a guard. He is now eligible to appear in 50 games next season for the Thunder and will spend most of his rookie campaign with the G League’s OKC Blue.

Ducas hasn’t had a chance to play in the summer league for the Thunder. He’s dealt with a hip injury that’s kept him out of action.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Report: Warriors agree to two-way NBA deal with Virginia’s Reece Beekman

The two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year averaged 14.3 points on 44.3% shooting from the field last season at Virginia.

After drafting Boston Colleges’s Quinten Post in the second round on Thursday with their only pick in the 2024 edition of the NBA, the Golden State Warriors quickly got down to business with undrafted free agents.

Following the draft, the Warriors reportedly added a player to a two-way contract. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Virginia guard Reexe Beekman agreed to a two-way NBA contract with Golden State.

Via @ShamsCharania on Twitter:

Beekman played four seasons under Tony Bennett at Virginia, earning All-ACC honors twice and ACC All-Defensive team honors three times. On a team known for their defense that included Phoenix Suns first-rounder Ryan Dunn, Beekman was selected as the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024.

The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 14.3 points on 44.3% shooting from the field and 31% from deep to go along with 6.2 assists, 3.6 rebounds and two steals in 32.8 minutes per game for Virginia last season.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Report: OKC Thunder sign Saint Mary’s Alex Ducas to two-way deal

Report: Thunder sign Saint Mary’s Alex Ducas to two-way deal.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed undrafted rookie Alex Ducas to a two-way deal, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

The 23-year-old played in five college seasons with Saint Mary’s from 2019-24. He was a starter for his last three collegiate campaigns with the Gaels.

In 34 games last season, Ducas averaged 9.9 points on 45.3% shooting, 5.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists. He shot 43.8% from 3 on 5.4 attempts. At 6-foot-7, 220 pounds, he has great size for a guard.

Ducas’ addition fills in one of the three two-way slots for the Thunder. They will likely sign Keyontae Johnson and Ajay Mitchell to the other two spots.

Expect Ducas to spend most of next season with the G League’s OKC Blue. He’ll get a chance to make his pro debut in the summer league for the Thunder.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Report: OKC Thunder sign Adam Flagler to two-way deal

Report: OKC Thunder signs Adam Flagler to two-way deal.

The Oklahoma City Thunder signed Adam Flagler to a two-way deal, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The 24-year-old went undrafted in 2023 out of Baylor and has spent the season with the G League’s OKC Blue. In 14 games, he’s averaged 12.6 points on 44.5% shooting, 3.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He’s shot 42% from 3 on 5.8 attempts.

In four college seasons from 2018 to 2023, Flagler averaged 13.8 points on 43.7% shooting, 2.6 assists and 2.6 rebounds.

The Thunder recently had a vacant two-way spot after Lindy Waters III was signed to a standard NBA deal on Friday. Flagler joins Keyontae Johnson and Olivier Sarr as OKC’s three two-way players.

The Thunder’s 18-player roster — 15 standard and three two-way — is now full. OKC also signed Bismack Biyombo for the rest of the season.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

OKC Thunder sign Olivier Sarr to two-way deal

Olivier Sarr is back with the Thunder for a third stint.

[anyclip pubname=”2123″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8170″]

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced on Monday that they have signed center Olivier Sarr to a two-way deal.

This means Sarr will enter his third season with the Thunder as a two-way player. He previously signed a two-way contract with OKC in February. In nine games, he averaged four points and 3.4 rebounds.

With Sarr’s addition, all three two-way slots have been filled. The other two two-way players on the Thunder are second-round rookie Keyontae Johnson and Lindy Waters III.

Sarr went undrafted in the 2021 draft out of Kentucky. The 24-year-old has appeared in 31 games spanning over two seasons with the Thunder since then.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

OKC Thunder news: Thunder sign Olivier Sarr to two-way deal

The two two-way spots are no occupied by Olivier Sarr and Lindy Waters III.

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced on Monday that they have signed Olivier Sarr to a two-way contract. In 23 games with the G League’s Oklahoma City Blue. Sarr averaged 7.7 points and 5.8 rebounds. In two games with the Thunder, Sarr averaged two points and 2.5 rebounds.

Sarr was one of the Thunder’s hardship exception signings when the team was dealing with a health and safety protocol outbreak during late December and early January.

The Kentucky big man went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft. The other two-way spot on the roster is currently occupied by Lindy Waters III. The spots were previously occupied by Aaron Wiggins and Paul Watson — with the former signing a full-time NBA contract and the latter being released.

[mm-video type=video id=01fwf52zw6sqnz8qthkd playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fwf52zw6sqnz8qthkd/01fwf52zw6sqnz8qthkd-9efeaca12ef44400322c55e870e6ec38.jpg]

[listicle id=457595]

OKC Thunder news: Thunder sign Aaron Wiggins to four-year deal

The Thunder have finally converted Aaron Wiggins to an NBA contract after playing the entire season up to this point on a two-way deal.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed Aaron Wiggins to a full-time NBA contract of four years, $6.4 million, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The Thunder have a team option for the fourth year. The second-round rookie was previously on a two-way deal with the Thunder.

The NBA’s two-way contract usually limits a player’s game appearances to just 50 per season, but due to alarmingly increasing health and safety protocol cases, that is not the case this season. The 55th-overall-pick has played in 31 games — 18 starts — and has averaged 7.4 points and 5.3 rebounds a game. After a five-game absence due to a right ankle sprain, Wiggins is set to make his return on Saturday night against the Chicago Bulls.

The Thunder now have an open two-way roster spot with the other one being occupied by Lindy Waters III, who took over Paul Watson’s spot.

[mm-video type=video id=01fvna57v6qqwmgwyd45 playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fvna57v6qqwmgwyd45/01fvna57v6qqwmgwyd45-bce7ec203d5ed0f46947f38ba40d15b3.jpg]

[listicle id=457444]

Lu Dort drawing comparisons to Celtics’ Marcus Smart

Dort built a successful rookie season with defense, but it’s his ability to be a ‘grind it out’ type player reminds some of Marcus Smart.

When (choosing to be optimistic here) the NBA season returns, one of the questions facing the Oklahoma City Thunder will be what to do with two-way player, Lu Dort.

Prior to the league-wide suspension, there was a lot of conversation about when the Thunder would convert Dort’s contract to a standard NBA contract, a move that, as of Feb. 23, ESPN reporter Royce Young believed would come in “the next few weeks”.

Dort’s meteoric rise from a guy splitting time between the NBA and the G League to a guy solidly entrenched in the Thunder’s starting rotation was built on his defensive tenacity. The rookie tackled some of the league’s toughest defensive assignments, especially shining in an outing against James Harden.

His offensive skills are still improving, and Elias Sbiet, Director of Recruiting at North Pole Hoops, told NBA.com that Dort reminds him of the Celtics’ Marcus Smart.

“I think one thing that he (Dort) will be able to wear his hat on is going to be the defensive prowess that he’s been showing. I don’t think that his skill set transition as well into the NBA as other guys at his size – he’s a Marcus Smart type mold. Marcus Smart has found a way in the NBA by being a grind it out type of guy – started his career by being a defensive guy as well and now he’s evolved.”

However, the Thunder’s veteran point guard, Chris Paul, has already eluded to the fact that Dort is much more than a defensive player, citing how he did the little things that went unnoticed in a win over Denver at the end of February.

Dort has also at times shown a scorer’s mentality, going for a career-high 23 points with no assists in a win over the Sacramento Kings.

Standard contract or not, Dort’s rookie season can be considered successful, and Sbiet believes that it’s a solid base upon which Dort can build a sustainable career.

“So I think if (Dort) can hold on to this role for a couple of seasons and then build on his skills set throughout the years – get a more consistent three-point shot, then he’ll have a spot in the league for a very long time.”

Hopefully, that spot continues to be with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Is Lu Dort the NBA’s ‘bravest defender’?

Carlan Gay of NBA.com called the Thunder two-way rookie “fearless” due to his willingness to tackle difficult defensive assignments.

In a season full of surprises in Oklahoma City, one of the most pleasant has been the development of two-way rookie, Lu Dort.

Dort made his name on the defensive side of the ball this year, picking up recognition for frustrating one of the league’s best shooters in James Harden to a historically bad shooting night in the Thunder’s 112-107 win over Houston on Jan. 20.

It’s been Dort’s willingness to take on some of the league’s toughest defensive assignments despite his part-time NBA status that caused Carlan Gay of NBA.com to entertain the idea that the rookie might be the league’s “bravest defender”.

However, Dort’s success comes as no surprise to Elias Sbiet, the Director of Recruiting at North Pole Hoops, who told Gay that as early as eighth or ninth grade, Dort has “been the guy on his team that’s willing to do whatever it takes”.

“That’s to win games, get scholarships, to compete at the next level…to win spots over other guys. That’s exactly what he’s doing right now in the NBA, he’s doing whatever it takes to stay on the floor, to stay on the team and pick up an NBA contract.”

It’s not just the fact that Dort tackles the challenges of guarding guys like Harden and Trae Young. He’s also stepping up and doing some of the underappreciated defensive work.

Calling him “fearless”, Gay noted that since Dort stepped into the starting rotation in January, “he’s leading the team in charges drawn, contested 3-point shots, and has recovered 75% of defensive loose balls”.

Signed to a two-way contract after going undrafted last June, Dort was well on his way to have his contract converted to a standard NBA contract before the league’s shutdown.