Washington Wizards management has signed its first player to the one of the two “two-way” player spots open on the roster. Former Pittsburgh forward Michael Young, who is playing on the Wizards summer league team, should see plenty of action in the G League, and could contribute on a few occasions in D.C.
The Washington Wizards announced on Wednesday that they have signed Michael Young to a two-way contract. We highlighted Young and some other summer league participants two weeks ago in our free agent round-up.
The 6’9″ forward shined at Pitt, averaging 19.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, and shot 45% from the field and 34% on threes in his senior season. Young will also be playing on the Wizards summer league team, which plays its first game on July 8th.
If you’re wondering what a two-way contract is, that’s understandable. The 2017 season will be the first season that the contracts are used in the NBA. A two-way contract allows teams to hold two extra roster spots (up to 17), with the two way players spending the majority of their time in the G League, formerly the NBA Developmental League. Young’s contract will not count against the team’s salary cap.
The new CBA stipulates that a two-way player can spend no more than 45 days in the NBA on the parent team. If the player eclipses that 45 game mark, his two-way contract becomes an NBA contract. According to the Washington Post, Young’s agent said the deal is a two year deal.
Because Washington has yet to launch its own G League franchise, expect to see Young play with the Delaware 87ers where Danuel House played for much of last season.
View some of Young’s senior year highlights below:
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Expect for Washington’s other two-way player to be on its final summer league team roster.