Now that the NBA Board of Governors has approved a competitive format to restart the 2019-20 season, the league is working on the guidelines for roster construction once play resumes on July 31.
The NBA, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, is working with teams on how players signed to two-way contracts may be utilized during the playoffs. The proposal is that the league will allow teams no limitations on how a team may replace a player that potentially tests positive for the coronavirus or suffers a long-term injury.
Currently, players signed to two-way contracts would be left out of the bubble environment in order to limit the size of a team’s traveling party. Teams are reportedly petitioning the NBA to allow the inclusion of two-way players as insurance for potential sickness or injury. Players on two-way contracts are not currently permitted to appear in the playoffs.
As the NBA works with teams on those details, the league is working to allow teams the ability to convert two-way players to standard NBA contracts before the season returns. According to ESPN, the window to sign those players would be for just over one week.
The NBA is hopeful to allow teams to convert two-way players to NBA contracts beginning on June 22 until July 1, sources said. In this instance, for example, the Oklahoma City Thunder could convert the two-way contract of rookie guard Luguentz Dort, who had started 21 consecutive games before the season’s shutdown.
Dort played well with the Thunder prior to the season suspension after entering the starting lineup on Jan. 20.
In 14 games played as a starter, Dort averaged 7.9 points and 1.6 rebounds. The Thunder were expected to sign Dort to a standard NBA deal prior to the suspension so he could eventually have his contract upgraded beginning on June 22.
[vertical-gallery id=432409]