Ranking Every Two-Way Contract Player in the NBA

Two-way contracts are incredibly undervalued. Season after season, we see success stories where overlooked players outplay their two-way deals and earn multi-year standard contracts. Guys like Alex Caruso, Duncan Robinson, and Lu Dort are proof that contributors can be found anywhere in the NBA if teams look hard enough. The current two-way contract pool is deep and there are many potential breakout candidates. Here is every player on a two-way contract for the 2024-25 season, ranked and tiered: 

(Note: eligible players will have their 2023-24 MOB score listed. Read more about what that is here)

TIER 1: REAL ROTATION PIECES

1: Scotty Pippen Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies)

The son of an NBA legend, Scotty Pippen Jr. is now well on his way to making his own name in the league. He’s the current favorite to be Memphis’ backup point guard this season, and it feels inevitable that he’ll receive a big pay day soon. He’s a heady floor general, a dogged defender, and a much improved shooter who fits right into the young and hungry Grizzlies culture. 

2: Kessler Edwards (Dallas Mavericks)

MOB score rank: 213

Kessler Edwards is the exact type of utility forward every team is constantly searching for. He was the designated situational stopper for the Kings because of his ability to contain multiple positions and force misses or turnovers defensively. He’s also a reliable spot-up threat, especially from the corner. He’s the perfect type of player to put next to Luka Doncic and he has a real chance to carve a rotation spot for himself and help the Mavericks return to the Finals. 

TIER 2: CERTIFIED NBA PLAYERS

3: Jay Huff (Memphis Grizzlies)

MOB score rank: 292

Huff has proven on every level that he belongs in the NBA. The former G League Defensive Player of the Year fits the ultra-elusive and ultra-valuable mold of 3&D center with his monstrous shot blocking ability and efficient pick-and-pop game. Memphis lacks depth at the five behind Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey, so Huff may finally get his big break in 2024-25. If he does, he will shine. 

4: Trey Jemison (New Orleans Pelicans)

While the Grizzlies had a season from hell in 2023-24, it wasn’t all bad, because it unearthed hidden gems like Trey Jemison. The UAB product started 14 games for the Grizz in which he protected the rim at a high level and relentlessly attacked the glass, proving himself as a pro. Now joining a New Orleans squad with an uncertain center rotation, Jemison has a chance to step in and be a savior (of sorts) once again. 

5: Tristan Vukcevic (Washington Wizards)

A late addition to the Wizards last season, Tristan Vukcevic raised eyebrows in his first 10 NBA appearances. The Serbian center possesses a ton of skill for a man of his size and is able to space the floor, put the ball on the deck, and dish out dimes. Washington is likely in for a bleak year, but Vukcevic’s growth will be interesting to monitor. 

6: Dominick Barlow (Atlanta Hawks)

MOB score rank: 160

Overtime Elite’s flagship prospect is on his way to making the league proud. Barlow, who went undrafted in 2022, popped up as an intriguing backup for San Antonio last season. He provides finishing, rebounding, rim protection, and passing and as a still-raw 21-year-old, he still has a lot more potential to tap into. 

7: Justin Champagnie (Washington Wizards)

MOB score rank: 217

Justin Champagnie can’t shoot like his twin (Julian Champagnie of the Spurs), but he can do everything else. He slid into Washington’s rotation towards the end of the season and looked like a very solid role player. The New York native is scrappy on the boards and on defense and he knows where to be to pick up easy points in the paint. The Wizards won’t be winning much, but Champagnie can do things on the court to help establish a winning culture. 

8: Jeff Dowtin (Philadelphia 76ers)

MOB score rank: 245

The 76ers are entering this season with a largely revamped roster, which means there will be many rotation spots up for grabs. Jeff Dowtin has a chance to snag one. A 6’3” combo guard with stretching arms that make him look much taller, Dowtin brings a super versatile skill set to the table that would allow him to wear multiple hats in Philadelphia’s lineup. 

9: Jamal Cain (New Orleans Pelicans)

MOB score rank: 220

A product of the Miami Heat’s fabled undrafted development program, Jamal Cain is now traveling down to The Big Easy where he could further spread his wings as a Pelican. New Orleans lost Naji Marshall to free agency, and Cain can provide a lot of the same defensive intensity and lunch pail mentality that Marshall did. 

10: Josh Christopher (Miami Heat)

Despite the talent and potential that made him a top high school recruit and a first round pick, Josh Christopher found himself out of the NBA in 2023-24. But, after showing out in the G and in summer league, he’s back. And this time, instead of playing for a dysfunctional young Rockets team, he’ll be down in South Beach with an organization that prioritizes hard work and winning. If Christopher buys into the culture, look out. 

11: Micah Potter (Utah Jazz)

MOB score rank: 238

Coming off a stint with the United States Select Team where he befriended the brightest stars in basketball, Micah Potter will now return to Salt Lake City with new experience and knowledge that will help him play a bigger role for his squad. His legit floor-spacing ability will open things up for guys like Collin Sexton and Lauri Markkanen to operate inside.  

12: Dru Smith (Miami Heat)

MOB score rank: 237

Remember what Gabe Vincent did for Miami in the 2023 playoffs? There’s a world where Dru Smith could do similar things for them. Smith is a hard-nosed defender who takes care of the ball and hits shots on offense. He was playing 15 minutes a night last season before going down with an injury, so coach Spoelstra clearly trusts him, and he could find his way into the rotation once again in 2024-25. 

13: David Duke Jr. (San Antonio Spurs)

MOB score rank: 310

A relentless rim attacker and defender, David Duke Jr. is just a consistent jump shot away from making it hard to keep him out of the rotation. This past season, he showed he’s well on his way to expanding his range. If the Spurs keep him in their farm, Duke Jr. could help them out once they are ready to compete for titles with Wemby at the helm. 

14: Mason Jones (Sacramento Kings)

MOB score rank: 339

Mason Jones is one of the best players in the G League, but he hasn’t found his footing in the NBA quite yet. However, his significant loss of weight may change that, as evident by how he performed in the 2024 summer league. His improved burstiness will only amplify his scoring and playmaking talent and make him a better fit in Sacramento’s high-octane attack. 

15: Trevelin Queen (Orlando Magic)

MOB score rank: 236

Another G League superstar, Trevelin Queen has found his niche in the NBA in a different way. In the minors, he averages well over 20 points, but for the Magic he is a defensive specialist who makes his presence felt by getting stops. Read more about him here!

16: Jack McVeigh (Houston Rockets)

One of the best shooters the league down under has to offer, 28-year-old Jack McVeigh is now joining the greatest league on earth for the first time in his career. His flamethrowing talents and veteran presence will both come in handy for an up-and-coming Rockets team that ranked 23rd in 3P% last season. 

TIER 3: FRINGE NBA PLAYERS

17: Stanley Umude (Milwaukee Bucks)

MOB score rank: 229

Umude is a strong, athletic 3&D forward who will give other young Buck prospects like MarJon Beauchamp and A.J. Green a run for their money to potentially receive some spot minutes. His skill set is perfect for being in lineups next to Giannis and Dame. 

18: Collin Gillespie (Phoenix Suns)

MOB score rank: 225

An intelligent, efficient floor general with plenty of winning experience from his college days, Gillespie could potentially be a solution to Phoenix’s point guard problem. 

19: Anzejs Pasecniks (Milwaukee Bucks)

A former Washington Wizard making his return to the NBA, Pasecniks is a towering figure who can block shots and finish at the rim. He will give the Bucks some much needed center depth. 

20: Tosan Evbuomwan (Detroit Pistons)

Power forwards in the modern NBA should be versatile and capable of spacing the floor. Evbuomwan fits that bill with his ability to hit corner threes, put the ball on the deck, and make things happen on defense. 

21: Bryce McGowens (Portland Trail Blazers)

MOB score rank: 165

Bryce McGowens knows how to score. He can create his own from all three levels and hit a variety of shots. To find a long term spot in the league, he will need to round out his game and become more efficient in all senses. 

22: Nate Williams (Houston Rockets)

MOB score rank: 262

His game is not flashy, but Nate Williams gets it done. The lefty makes his living in the paint, finishing off drives, cuts, and out of the dunkers spot. 

23: Ryan Rollins (Milwaukee Bucks) 

MOB score rank: 242

Rollins is a crafty, confident score-first guard who also racks up stocks on D. The Bucks don’t have many shot creators outside of their stars and it could be wise to allow the 22-year-old to cook in some bench lineups. 

24: TyTy Washington Jr. (Phoenix Suns)

MOB score rank: 325

Once ranked in the All-Star tier of Bench Mob Blog’s 2022 big board, TyTy Washington has disappointed so far in his young career. This may be his last chance to translate his college and G League play to the NBA. 

25: Jason Preston (Utah Jazz)

MOB score rank: 278

Jason Preston’s IQ is through the roof, and he dishes out a ton of assists as a result. He also has a thick frame that he uses to compete on the glass. If he improves his scoring, the former March Madness star could become a rock-solid backup point guard and a triple-double threat. 

26: Brandon Williams (Dallas Mavericks)

MOB score rank: 271

A veteran G League bucket getter, Bradon Williams has been reduced to a garbage time killer in the NBA. He has some microwave potential and only time will tell if it will be unleashed. 

27: Adama Sanogo (Chicago Bulls)

MOB score rank: 289

Adama Sanogo is a monster. The former NCAA champion put up a 20-20 game in just his ninth NBA appearance last season. With the departure of Andre Drummond, backup center minutes could be available for Sanogo in 2024-25. 

28: JT Thor (Cleveland Cavaliers)

MOB score rank: 113

His name is cooler than his game, but JT Thor is still bursting with potential. South Sudan’s hero has shown flashes in every area of the game, and joining a more structured team might be the key to unlocking the best version of him. 

29: Jordan Miller (Los Angeles Clippers)

MOB score rank: 352

Jordan Miller just dominated the 2024 summer league. Now, he’s heading into 2024-25 as a deep-sleeper breakout candidate who could find success in Paul George’s wake. His multi-level scoring attack will be valuable for a Clippers team that now lacks players with that skill outside of Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. 

30: Daishen Nix (Minnesota Timberwolves)

MOB score rank: 293

Nix is a quality passer and a disruptive defender, but his best attribute isn’t an on-court one. He’s an elite vibes guy who can always be seen standing on Minnesota’s bench, celebrating, dancing, and wearing some sick outfits. 

31: Quenton Jackson (Indiana Pacers)

MOB score rank: 346

A speedy, athletic combo guard, Quenton Jackson could make an impact in Indiana’s fact-paced system. Unfortunately, the team is so deep that he will have a tough time seeing the court this season.

32: Colin Castleton (Los Angeles Lakers)

MOB score rank: 320

Screening. Finishing. Passing. Shooting. Shot Blocking. Colin Castleton can do some of everything, and he has the upside to be a backup center, especially if he adds some weight. The Lakers reportedly will prioritize playing young players more often this season, so the Florida product may get a bigger opportunity to show what he can do. 

33: Oscar Tshiebwe (Utah Jazz)

MOB score rank: 301

Oscar Tshiebwe is one of the greatest rebounders in college basketball and G League history. His 15.9 rebounds per night for the Indiana Mad Ants was the second highest single-season average in the history of the G. He didn’t get much playing time in the big league last season, but now that he’s on the tanking Jazz, that could change. 

34: Emoni Bates (Cleveland Cavaliers)

MOB score rank: 275

The former “next Kevin Durant” has fallen hard from grace, but one thing is for sure: he can still get some buckets. With Isaac Okoro potentially leaving Cleveland, Bates could see some real minutes on the wing this season, and making an impact for a playoff team would do wonders for his stock. 

35: Kevin McCullar Jr. (New York Knicks)

Kevin McCullar is one of the biggest steals of the 2024 draft. He was considered by many to be a first round pick, but injury concerns caused him to slide all the way to 56th. He’s a pro-level defender already and Tom Thibodeau will absolutely love him. The Knicks are very deep, so he probably won’t play much this season, but in a few years time everyone will be wondering how he fell so far on draft night. 

36: KJ Simpson (Charlotte Hornets)

KJ Simpson is a straight-up gamer. He can score at every level, he competes on defense, and he’s a leader. It’s very likely that he is one of the best players in the G League this season.

37: Enrique Freeman (Indiana Pacers)

Last season’s NCAA rebounds leader wasn’t some dominant giant center, it was actually 6’8” Enrique Freeman. The Akron product does everything on the court and fits the ideal mold of a winning role player. 

38: Anton Watson (Boston Celtics)

Anton Watson is very similar to Enrique Freeman. He’s an experienced jack-of-all-trades forward who will be ready to play on an NBA court from day one. It’s too bad the Celtics won’t have any minutes for him, barring significant injuries. 

39: Ariel Hukporti (New York Knicks)

The departure of Isaiah Hartenstein leaves behind a big hole in New York’s center rotation. He’ll have to compete with Precious Achiuwa and Jericho Sims, but there is a sneaky chance that Ariel Hukporti ends up playing some backup five minutes this season. If he does, he’ll be able to do everything you want from a traditional center. 

40: Cam Spencer (Memphis Grizzlies)

Cam Spencer plays the game the right way. It sounds like an overused, stupid stereotype, but it’s true. He makes great decisions, moves off the ball, competes on defense, and knocks down a ton of threes. Luke Kennard better not get comfortable this season because Spencer will be nipping at his heels for minutes at shooting guard. 

41: PJ Hall (Denver Nuggets)

Denver doesn’t really need a good backup center, as Nikola Jokic rarely gets hurt and can play a ton of minutes, but when the MVP has to rest this season, Michael Malone should call PJ Hall’s number. The four-year man from Clemson is the dollar store version of the dollar store version of the Joker (that is a compliment) because he can pass, shoot, screen, and roll at a high level. 

42: N’Faly Dante (Houston Rockets)

N’Faly Dante stuffed the stat sheet at Oregon because he was a man amongst boys. He’s a massive, incredibly strong center who will have no trouble adjusting to the physicality of the NBA. 

43: Moussa Diabate (Charlotte Hornets)

MOB score rank: 267

Centers who are one-trick ponies on defense are starting to become a dying breed, which gives Moussa Diabate an upper hand over some of his peers because he is very capable of switching on the perimeter. He’s also a respectable P&R finisher and rebounder. 

44: JD Davison (Boston Celtics)

MOB score rank: 309

JD Davison is a speedy downhill guard with a real knack for making plays for himself and others in the pick-and-roll and in transition. There has been no room for him in Boston’s rotation since he was drafted, but he may force that to change soon. 

45: Malcolm Hill (New Orleans Pelicans)

Coming off a ridiculous season in the G that ended with him being named to an all-league team, it’s clear that Malcolm Hill belongs at the next level. New Orleans’ impressive depth may prevent him from really showing that this season, though. 

46: Seth Lundy (Atlanta Hawks)

MOB score rank: 347

Elite shooting is always valuable in the NBA, and that’s what Seth Lundy brings to the table. He’s a solid defender, too. If Atlanta struggles this season, Lundy may get extended minutes and the chance to prove he is a pro. 

TIER 4: G LEAGUERS

This tier is made up of players who are/will be high level minor league players, but aren’t necessarily NBA level at this point. All of them, especially rookies like Trey Alexander and Jalen Bridges, could very well outperform this grouping.

47: Drew Peterson (Boston Celtics) 

MOB score rank: 340

48: Daeqwon Plowden (Golden State Warriors)

49: Keaton Wallace (Atlanta Hawks)

50: Keshad Johnson (Miami Heat)

51: DJ Steward (Chicago Bulls)

52: D.J. Carton (Toronto Raptors)

MOB score rank: 342

53: Trey Alexander (Denver Nuggets)

54: Jalen Bridges (Phoenix Suns)

55: Jacob Toppin (New York Knicks)

MOB score rank: 333

56: Justin Minaya (Portland Trail Blazers)

MOB score rank: 194

57: Jamaree Bouyea (San Antonio Spurs)

MOB score rank: 295

58: Tristen Newton (Indiana Pacers)

59: Blake Hinson (Los Angeles Lakers)

60: Harrison Ingram (San Antonio Spurs)

61: Isaiah Crawford (Sacramento Kings)

62: Ajay Mitchell (Oklahoma City Thunder)

63: Jacky Cui (Brooklyn Nets)

64: Jaylen Clark (Minnesota Timberwolves)

65: Adam Flagler (Oklahoma City Thunder)

66: Jaylen Martin (Brooklyn Nets)

TIER 5: WAIT AND SEE

This tier is composed of mostly undrafted rookies who need to play some games before a conclusion can be made about how they fit into the NBA hierarchy. 

67: Spencer Jones (Denver Nuggets)

68: David Jones (Philadelphia 76ers)

69: Justin Edwards (Philadelphia 76ers)

70: Jesse Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)

71: Ulrich Chomche (Toronto Raptors)

72: Armel Traore (Los Angeles Lakers)

73: Branden Carlson (Toronto Raptors)

74: Reece Beekman (Golden State Warriors)

75: Daniss Jenkins (Detroit Pistons)

76: Trentyn Flowers (Los Angeles Clippers)

77: Isaac Jones (Sacramento Kings)

78: Alex Ducas (Oklahoma City Thunder) 

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