Like Sidi Cissoko in Portland, the upcoming headache of certain “two-way” contracts

Last night there were three starters on the NBA floor. Sidi Cissoko with the Blazers, Dominick Barlow at the Sixers, and Spencer Jones with the Nuggets that started like that, even though they are signatories to a “two-way” contract. It has even become anything but an anomaly.

Depending on the absences and their good contributions, the trio accumulated starts: 22 for Spencer Jones and Dominic Barlow, which is a record for players currently in the “two-way”, 13 for Sidi Sissoko. While the regular season is not yet halfway through, some teams will have to seriously work on the case of their luxury temporary workers, limited to a certain number of games.

“Two-way” contracts therefore require franchises to have their players signed in this form only 50 times on the fixture list. This so-called “active” player status does not mean that he plays a match: a match without a single second played while he is present in the available team still counts. And this 50-game limit – reduced proportionately if a player signs a two-way contract after the start of the season – is fast approaching for certain players.

“Two-way” contracts now guaranteed until the end of the season

All “two-way” contracts are officially guaranteed as of Wednesday night, the deadline. So the Knicks parted ways with Tosan Evbuomwan, the Bucks with Mark Sears, and the Hawks with Malik Williams, right before the regulatory “deadline.” For other players, their position will soon become a problem: should this “two-way” contract be transformed into a classic, guaranteed lease? And if so, how?

17 players have already reached at least half of their NBA cap with their “two-way” contract:

• Nae’quan Tomlin (31/50) for the Cavaliers
• Kobe Sanders (27/50) with the Clippers
• Olivier-Mackenzie Prosper (27/50) with the Grizzlies
• Moussa Cisse (32/50) floor Ryan Nembhardt (28/50) for the Mavericks
• Spencer Jones (34/50) for the Nuggets
• Taelon Peter (30/50) among the Pacers
• Brice McGowens (30/50) for the Pelicans
• Daniss Jenkins (34/50) for the Pistons
• JD Davison (30/50) for the Rockets
• Jabari Walker (32/50) for the Sixers
• Brandon Carlson (28/50) floor Chris Youngblood (34/50) at Grom
• Johnny Yuzang (34/50) for the Timberwolves
• Sidi Cissoko (30/50) floor Caleb Love (27/50) with the Trail Blazers
• Tristan Vukcevic (32/50) among Wizards

If some were mostly called to help at the end of the bench to complete the lineup during injuries, others, like the three previously mentioned examples, completely established themselves in the rotation of their team.

« Siddi has been training all summer and is playing pretty well » greeted Portland coach Tiago Splitter a few days ago, on the sidelines of the match against Spurs. ” He plays hard, and that’s a talent he brings every night. And he continues to do that regardless of whether he has more or less minutes. He’s going to bring some fire to the game, and I like that. I don’t think he has anything to prove to me. He plays the right way. » Enough to grant him a guaranteed contract soon? ” I don’t know if I can answer you, you will have to ask my managers this question » escuivait Tiago Splitter.

Next to Sidi Cissoko, not necessarily the most prominent against the Rocketsother two-way players introduced themselves on Wednesday. Daniss Jenkins impressed once again to fill in for Cade Cunningham leading the Pistons with 15 assists in 29 minutes. Bryce McGowens finished with the second time of the game Pelicans vs. Hawks (37 minutes for 20 points on 8/15 shooting). Olivier-Maxens Prosper had the most playing time on the Grizzlies bench against Phoenix (27 minutes). And Sidi Sissok’s teammate in the Blazers, Caleb Love, was serious again on the bench with Portland (10 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists in 29 minutes).

Cornelian elections to come

For the Blazers, good performances from the Cissoko-Lova tandem could force the choice. Will Portland have to cut two players to make room for their two-way? Ryan Rupert etc Duo Reathand bottom of the rotation Tiago Splitter and free agent at the end of the season would be the main “at risk” players.

It’s hard to imagine the Nuggets getting rid of their find in Spencer Jones, especially given the cascade of injuries affecting the Rockies franchise. But if Denver has an empty roster spot, signing their winger could be costly financially. The 2023 champion is already just over the luxury tax threshold and will see his wages rise further next season with a new contract Christian Brown (from 4.9 to 21.5 million dollars) and doc Peyton Watson sera “free agent”.

As for the Thunder, their overwhelming dominance during the first third of the season allowed coach Marc Daigneault to give his starters a break during the final quarters. But the minutes offered to Branden Karlsson or Chris Youngblood could limit the Oklahoma City coach’s ability to rotate his roster in the second half of the season, other than cutting players who have been lauded for their contributions since the start of the season.

« Branden is always ready to play, and that’s what I respect the most about him » pointed out Mark Deno after 15 points and 11 rebounds inside against the Warriors. ” There are certain guys that you’re happy to get into the game because you feel like they deserve it. We have a lot of players, but Branden is obviously one of them. »

Ryan Nembhard, a revelation among the Mavericks (9.6 points on 43.8% on 3-pointers and 6.1 assists in 16 starts), even if he runs into a “rookie wall” in recent weeks, or even Kobe Sanders, 20 points on Monday against the Warriors and 20.9 minutes on average over the last 22 games …

So many cases that their leaders could tear their hair out. Last season, 26 players with “two-way” contracts received a guaranteed ticket.