Warriors stand to benefit from new two-way contract rules

Over the last few years, the Golden State Warriors have used two-way contracts more than any other NBA team. I don’t actually know if this is true, because I’m not aware of this being a tracked stat, but I would be very surprised if it were not.

Quinn Cook was a two-way contract, until he ran out of days and needed his contract converted.

Damion Lee was a two-way contract, until he ran out of days and needed his contract converted.

Ky Bowman was a two-way contract, until he ran out of days and needed his contract converted.

The Warriors hope to not rely on two-way contracts as much in 2020-21. Lee played mostly on merit, but Cook, Bowman, and others got their opportunities largely because of injuries. Steph Curry injuries in particular.

But it still seems likely that the Warriors will lean on two-way contracts a little bit, and they can do so more this year than in the past.

With the standard G League season not happening due to the coronavirus, the two-way contract rules are getting a shake-up. Gone are the 45 days of available NBA service time, which included practice. Now two-way contracts are allowed 50 days of service time, which only includes games. They can practice and travel as much as they want, without it impacting their service time.

And in a good move for the players, they’ll be paid a set amount in the range of $500,000, regardless of time spent at the NBA level.

We’ll have to wait and see how the Warriors decide to use their two-way contracts. Maybe on some of the players from last year, or perhaps on second-round picks or undrafted rookies.

Whoever they choose, they won’t have to worry about roster crunches with them this time around.