CEBU, Philippines — During training camp, each team is allowed 20 players on the roster. That is why in pre-season games, we see a lot of unknowns finishing the game instead of the stars who started the game and the rotation players with existing contracts. Not receiving any salaries, undrafted players invited to the training camp roster receive a daily stipend of about $130, which includes uniforms, meals, accommodation and transportation.
When the season begins, a team is allowed a maximum of 15 players on their official roster. Depending on their pre-season performances, two players will be on “retainers” and they will become the 16th and 17th members of the team and will be assigned to the team’s G-League affiliate. They could either be on Exhibit 10 or Two-Way contracts which will save a significant amount on a team’s payroll because it does not count against the salary cap. To be qualified, players must be undrafted and were in the league for not more than four years.
Exhibit 10 contract
The Exhibit 10 contract was created as an incentive for players to play in the G-League instead of going overseas to play. Wikipedia says it is a one-year deal guaranteed on a player worth the minimum salary guaranteed upon getting a training camp invite.
If waived, a player will be offered between $5,000 to $50,000 bonus to sign with the G-League affiliate of the team, provided he stays on the team for 60 days. To date, only Portland and Denver have no G-League affiliate teams. For the 5-month G-League season, players receive a minimum of $7,000 a month which includes housing and insurance. If converted to a 2-way deal, the $50k bonus converts to a guaranteed salary.
Two-Way contract
The two-way contract was implemented during the 2017-2018 season between NBA teams and their G-League affiliates. This can either be a one-year or two-year deal and given likewise to undrafted players. Players can have their Exhibit 10 deals converted to 2-way deals and they’re considered as the 16th and 17th players of an NBA team.
A 2-way player is basically a reserve among the reserves. If someone on the 15-man roster gets injured, a 2-way player can get a call-up and play in the NBA for no more than 45 days, the rest of it spent in the G-League. He remains under team control and can’t be pirated by another team.
Pay is based on the number of days he played in the NBA and the G-League.
A call-up to play for their mother team is always good news for G-leaguers because it pro-rates to the NBA daily rate. A regular season has 170 playing days with a minimum players’ salary of $300,000 annually. Divide the amount to 170, an NBA player gets at least $1,770 a game.
Notable players with 2-Way and Exhibit 10 deals are:
Tacko Fall (BOS, Exhibit 10) - he had become a fan favorite and the TD Garden erupted in cheers when he saw action with 9 minutes remaining in their preseason game versus Charlotte recently. He’s the league’s tallest at 7’6” and would do the Celtics good if they keep and let him develop in their farm team.
Bol Bol (DEN, 2-Way) - four inches shorter but four years younger than Fall at 19, he’s the son of the late Manute Bol. The Nuggets have a project and if they’re patient, they could have an able back-up to Nikola Jokic.
Kostas Antetokounmpo (LAL, 2-Way) - older brothers Thanasis and Giannis both play for Milwaukee and given the right breaks with his 6’10” frame, he could reach the level of his more famous brother.
Yuta Watanabe (MEM, 2-Way) - he’s on his second year with the Grizzlies’ farm team, the Memphis Hustle and is an important player on the Japanese national team. This could be his season but another Japanese player might eclipse him, Washington’s 9th pick Rui Hachimura.