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According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the 22 NBA teams invited to the restart in Florida can bring players on two-way contracts along with the rest of the normal 15-man roster. All teams, including the Wizards can bring up to 17 players each.
Sources: The NBA is planning to allow teams to bring up to 17 players per roster (including two-ways) into the resumed season. Previous estimate was 15-player limit.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 11, 2020
For the two-way players themselves, this gives them a new opportunity to play in meaningful games. The Wizards’ two-way players are Garrison Mathews and Johnathan Williams.
Given that the Wizards have had multiple injuries at various points this season, Mathews and Williams had their moments with the Wizards. Mathews is averaging 5.3 points in just 12 minutes per game this season including a three-game stretch from Dec. 30 to Jan. 3 when he scored 10 or more points per game. Mathews is also making over 40 percent of his three point shots as a rookie.
Williams came to the Wizards in December after the team suffered multiple frontcourt injuries where he even started five of his first six games. He is averaging 3.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game this season, but hasn’t played a Wizards game since Jan. 30.
Mathews and Williams are not expected to be X-Factors for an NBA championship, or more realistically, a playoff berth. However, they will benefit from being in a playoff-like atmosphere and could provide some valuable spells for the starters and rotational reserves, especially if the Wizards suffer an injury bug this summer.