The two-way contract market gets brutal in October. One player receives another opportunity, another loses his spot, and somewhere inside an NBA practice facility, a prospect realizes his next few possessions could determine where he plays basketball this winter.
On October 6, the Milwaukee Bucks signed Johni Broome, a 2025 second-round pick who spent much of his rookie season in the G League. To make room, Milwaukee waived John Butler Jr. No blockbuster trade, no national television special. Just two young players heading in opposite directions before the regular season even begins.
For established NBA stars, training camp offers a chance to regain rhythm. For players at the bottom of the roster, every defensive rotation and loose rebound carries considerably more weight. The deadline only adds pressure. NBA teams must finalize their opening-night rosters by October 19, leaving front offices to decide which prospects deserve their limited developmental contracts.
A player who couldn’t survive one training camp might suddenly become another team’s priority. Someone who appeared comfortable two weeks earlier could lose his contract to a newcomer.
That’s October basketball for players fighting to stay in the league.
October’s Roster Math Leaves Little Room for Sentiment
NBA teams can carry 15 players on standard contracts and another three on two-way deals. Those extra positions offer front offices a way to develop young talent without sacrificing a regular roster spot.
The financial incentive makes them attractive, too.
According to the NBA G League’s contract guidelines, two-way salaries equal half the minimum salary for a player with no NBA service time. Salary Swish’s 2026-27 calculations put that figure at $678,882, based on a rookie minimum of $1,357,763. That’s meaningful money for an overlooked prospect, but relatively inexpensive depth for franchise spending millions on established rotation players.
There are restrictions. Two-way players can appear on their NBA team’s active list for a maximum of 50 regular-season games. They also cannot participate in the playoffs unless their contracts change to standard NBA deals. Still, teams can move those players between the NBA club and its G League affiliate, giving young talent opportunities to develop while providing emergency rotation help.
For a rebuilding team, that flexibility can support a longer developmental plan. A contender might instead prioritize someone capable of handling a limited role immediately.
Consider a reserve guard who rarely touches the ball but navigates screens, limits turnovers and makes open corner threes. He might offer more immediate value than a talented scorer who needs 15 shots to find his rhythm.
Those considerations shape the two-way contract market as teams narrow their rosters. By October, coaches have spent weeks watching prospects practice against NBA competition. They know which players understand their system and which still require significant development.
The Waiver Wire Scramble Is Already Underway
Milwaukee, Denver and New York have already made decisions that could change the trajectories of three young players. Each organization entered October with different roster needs, and each found a prospect worth investing in.
Johni Broome Gets Another Chance in Milwaukee
At Auburn, Johni Broome built his reputation through physical rebounding, interior scoring and an ability to contribute across several statistical categories. Philadelphia selected him 35th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, giving him his first route into professional basketball.
His rookie season delivered a complicated evaluation.
According to the Milwaukee Bucks’ October 6 announcement, Broome averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 blocks across 26 G League appearances with the Delaware Blue Coats. On January 16, he erupted for 50 points and 17 rebounds, the kind of performance that usually forces people to pay attention.
His opportunities in Philadelphia were considerably smaller. Broome appeared in just 11 regular-season NBA games, scoring 10 total points in 55 minutes.
A February meniscus injury interrupted his momentum, and Philadelphia eventually moved on. After a brief stint with the Clippers, Broome landed in Milwaukee on a non-guaranteed training camp deal.
For a 24-year-old former college star, that sequence represents a sharp change in circumstances. His G League numbers suggest offensive potential, but NBA coaches need evidence that his game translates against bigger, quicker defenders.
Milwaukee’s frontcourt already includes established options, making Broome’s path to regular minutes difficult. His rebounding, interior passing and physicality give him useful tools, although his developing perimeter shot remains a concern.
The preseason offers his next audition, assuming he gets enough playing time to make an impression. Broome didn’t appear in Milwaukee’s October 7 victory over Oklahoma City, with the official box score listing him out by a coach’s decision.
After scoring 50 points in a G League game last winter, Broome is back to fighting for a chance to get on the floor.
Ryan Nembhard Pushes KJ Simpson Out in Denver
Denver made its choice on October 1.
The Nuggets signed Ryan Nembhard to a two-way contract and requested waivers on KJ Simpson, who had occupied one of their developmental roster spots.
Nembhard entered the league undrafted in 2025 but established himself as a productive playmaker during his rookie season with Dallas. According to Denver’s official announcement, he averaged 6.6 points and 5.3 assists across 60 games, including 27 starts.
His most striking performance came against Chicago on April 12, when he recorded 23 assists. That put him among just 24 players in NBA history to reach that number in a single game, according to the Nuggets.
For a 5-foot-11 guard trying to establish himself, those numbers carry real weight. Nembhard doesn’t possess the size teams traditionally prefer in their backcourt, but his passing gives him a clear offensive identity.
Despite a productive rookie year, his future remained unsettled during the offseason. Charlotte waived him in late September, and Denver moved quickly to secure his services.
The Nuggets already have an elite offensive organizer in Nikola Jokic, but Nembhard offers a different kind of playmaking. His ability to control possessions, find cutters and deliver passes through tight defensive windows gives Denver another option when its primary creators rest.
Still, a strong assist total won’t protect him from defensive mismatches. At his size, Nembhard must fight through screens and stay attached to bigger guards. If opponents repeatedly target him, his offensive gifts may not be enough to secure meaningful rotation minutes.
Denver has given him another NBA opportunity. Now Nembhard must show that his passing outweighs the defensive concerns that follow undersized guards.
For Simpson, the decision came before opening night. He lost his roster spot to a player who had already demonstrated an unusual ability to create offense at the NBA level.
Jaden Akins Turns G League Production Into an NBA Contract
Jaden Akins took a different route.
The former Michigan State guard went undrafted in 2025 before spending the following season with the Motor City Cruise. According to the Westchester Knicks’ September announcement, Akins averaged 15.1 points, 5.7 assists and 3.1 rebounds across 47 G League games.
His development caught New York’s attention during Summer League. Akins scored 21 points against Golden State in July, giving the Knicks another look at his perimeter scoring and offensive confidence.
New York initially brought him into the organization on an Exhibit 10 agreement. On September 30, the Knicks signed him to a two-way contract, positioning him to develop with Westchester while remaining available for NBA assignments.
Akins has already received brief preseason minutes. Against Philadelphia on October 5, he made his only three-point attempt and collected three points in eight minutes. Three days later against Washington, he scored five points in six minutes.
Neither appearance will dominate a preseason highlight package. Yet those limited opportunities offer Akins a chance to demonstrate that his shooting can survive against stronger defenders.
His immediate challenge involves contributing without the offensive freedom he enjoyed in the G League. With established scorers occupying New York’s rotation, Akins must make quick decisions, defend his position and convert the open looks that come his way.
The Best Two-Way Success Stories Started With Doubt
The NBA introduced two-way contracts in 2017, initially allowing teams to carry two such players. That number increased to three beginning with the 2023-24 season.
Several players have since turned those developmental opportunities into meaningful NBA careers. Two of the strongest examples are Alex Caruso and Luguentz Dort.
Alex Caruso Made Defense His Calling Card
Caruso entered the league without hearing his name called during the 2016 NBA Draft. He spent the following season with the Oklahoma City Blue before the Lakers signed him to a two-way agreement in July 2017.
According to the Lakers’ official announcement, Caruso averaged 11.9 points, 5.2 assists and 2.2 steals across 50 G League games. Those numbers showed promise, but his defensive instincts eventually became his greatest professional asset.
Caruso earned a standard contract with Los Angeles in 2019 and helped the Lakers win the 2020 NBA championship. He built his reputation through perimeter defense, timely rotations and an ability to contribute without dominating the ball.
His progression offers a useful lesson for current prospects. An NBA team doesn’t always need its final roster addition to create offense. Sometimes, it needs someone who understands where to stand, which passing lane to close and when to rotate behind a teammate.
Caruso turned those details into a career that extended well beyond the Lakers.
Lu Dort Made His Defense Impossible to Ignore
Oklahoma City found a similar opportunity with Lu Dort, an undrafted Arizona State guard who joined the Thunder on a two-way contract in 2019.
Dort quickly developed into a physical perimeter defender. His strength and willingness to challenge opposing scorers helped him earn an expanded role during his rookie season.
Then came the 2020 playoffs.
Against Houston, Dort delivered 30 points in Game 7 of the first-round series, making six three-pointers in a performance that nearly carried Oklahoma City into the next round.
By then, the Thunder had already converted his two-way agreement into a standard NBA contract.
Dort eventually earned All-Defensive recognition and helped Oklahoma City win the 2025 NBA championship. A July 2026 trade sent him to Atlanta, but his NBA foundation came from challenging elite scorers and accepting a demanding defensive assignment early in his career.
Caruso and Dort didn’t need teams to build offenses around them. They found specific jobs that NBA coaches valued, performed those jobs consistently and gradually earned larger roles.
Their careers remain powerful examples of what the two-way contract market can produce when front offices identify talent before it becomes widely valued.
Exhibit 10 Deals Turn Training Camp Into an Audition
Not every player competing for a two-way position already holds one.
Exhibit 10 contracts give teams a flexible way to audition prospects during training camp. They also establish a possible pathway to the G League when a player fails to secure an NBA position.
Under the league’s contractual framework, teams can convert eligible Exhibit 10 agreements into two-way contracts before the regular season. If they waive a player instead, that player may qualify for a bonus by signing with the affiliated G League club and remaining there for at least 60 days.
The maximum Exhibit 10 bonus for 2026-27 is $91,000, according to current league-year contract figures.
That money can make a substantial difference for someone building a professional career. It provides an incentive to remain within an NBA organization’s developmental system instead of immediately pursuing another opportunity.
However, an Exhibit 10 agreement doesn’t guarantee an NBA roster position. Nor does it give the parent team permanent control over a waived player’s professional future. Another franchise can pursue an eligible player who becomes available.
For executives, the decision comes down to timing and available roster spots. They can commit one of their three two-way positions immediately or attempt to keep a prospect within their G League system.
Akins secured his contract before October began. Broome entered Milwaukee’s camp still needing to earn one.
Why Defensive Details Can Matter More Than Preseason Points
Preseason scoring totals attract attention, but coaches often judge fringe players through a narrower set of responsibilities.
A young guard might score 18 points against reserve defenders. That performance looks impressive on paper, yet his contract prospects could depend more heavily on how he handles ball pressure or defends an opposing pick-and-roll.
Teams have little patience for repeated defensive mistakes from players expected to fill limited roles.
For wings, the assignment often involves chasing shooters around screens, making quick decisions after catching the ball and resisting difficult attempts. Big men face different demands. Coaches want strong screens, defensive rebounding and dependable positioning around the basket.
A prospect who delivers those contributions consistently can become more useful than one who occasionally produces a spectacular highlight.
Offensive specialization also carries value when it addresses a clear weakness.
Nembhard brings Denver proven passing ability. Akins offers New York developing playmaking and perimeter scoring. Broome gives Milwaukee another interior option with a productive G League background.
Those skills give coaching staffs something specific to test during the final preseason games. Nembhard must show he can defend despite his size. Akins needs to prove his offensive improvement holds against NBA pressure. Broome must convince Milwaukee that his interior production outweighs his shooting limitations.
The two-way contract market isn’t always about identifying the best overall player. A team may prefer a disciplined defender who can handle eight minutes tomorrow over a more talented scorer who still needs a year to develop.
October 19 Will Settle the Rosters but Not the Competition
The final days before opening night will bring another wave of decisions.
NBA preseason games conclude October 16, and teams must establish their opening-night rosters by 5 p.m. Eastern on October 19. The regular season begins the following day, leaving little room for extended evaluations.
Some players will secure two-way contracts. Others could remain with an organization through its G League affiliate, while a few will pursue opportunities with different franchises.
The NBA G League opens training camps October 26 and begins its Tip-Off Tournament November 6. That schedule provides another stage for players who miss out on opening-night positions.
History suggests that missing the initial roster doesn’t necessarily close the door.
Caruso spent time developing in the G League before becoming an NBA champion. Dort entered the league undrafted before establishing himself as a valuable perimeter defender. Neemias Queta, a 2021 second-round pick, signed a two-way contract with Boston in September 2023 and earned a standard NBA deal in April 2024.
Those careers followed different paths, and none came with guarantees.
Dozens of capable players move through training camps and developmental contracts without finding a permanent NBA role. Some head overseas, others return to the G League, and many spend years chasing another opportunity.
For a general manager, replacing a fringe prospect might look like routine business. For the player leaving the facility, the decision can mean finding another team, another city and another route toward the career he has spent years pursuing.
The two-way contract market will keep moving even after opening-night rosters become official. Injuries will create openings, unexpected releases will put new players within reach, and a productive month in the G League could change someone’s circumstances before winter.
Broome, Nembhard and Akins now face different versions of the same challenge. Broome must secure his place in Milwaukee, Nembhard needs to translate his passing into a useful role in Denver, and Akins has an opportunity to develop within New York’s system.
Somewhere among the players fighting for those final spots, there may be another Caruso or Dort.
The challenge for NBA front offices isn’t simply deciding who deserves a contract today. It’s recognizing the player they’ll regret letting go tomorrow.
READ MORE: Two-way contract battle: How NBA teams choose the final roster spots
FAQs
Q1. How many two-way contracts can an NBA team have?
NBA teams can carry up to three players on two-way contracts alongside their 15 standard roster players.
Q2. How much do NBA two-way players make in 2026-27?
A full-season NBA two-way contract pays $678,882 in 2026-27, according to SalarySwish’s salary calculations.
Q3. Can NBA two-way players compete in the playoffs?
Not on their two-way deals. Teams must convert those contracts into standard NBA agreements before the applicable playoff eligibility deadline.
Q4. What is an Exhibit 10 contract in the NBA?
An Exhibit 10 deal gives a player a training camp opportunity and a possible G League bonus. Teams can also convert eligible deals into two-way contracts.
Q5. When do NBA teams have to finalize their 2026-27 rosters?
NBA teams must set their opening-night rosters by October 19, 2026, at 5 p.m. Eastern, one day before the season begins.
