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On Tuesday, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported that the NBA and NBPA will eliminate a 50-game limit for two-way players this season. The NBA Board of Governors is expected to approve it.
Sources: The NBA and NBPA are planning to eliminate the 50-game limit for two-way contract players this season and to allow two-way players to be eligible for the playoffs, pending Board approval.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 2, 2021
The move is widely supported by General Managers in part because many teams, including the Washington Wizards, have been affected by coronavirus outbreaks this season. Garrison Mathews and Cassius Winston are the two players on such contract this season.
Of the two, Mathews is the player most likely to play above 50 games. He is averaging 7.1 points per game this season in 26 games so far this season, including 10 starts. If and when Mathews plays his 51st game, his player compensation will move to the veteran minimum.
This provides some flexibility for players and teams during the pandemic season. Two-way players who exceed 50 active games would then have compensation moved to their minimum based on years of service, sources said. https://t.co/DUz3skJ0aM
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 2, 2021
Since Mathews has played a significant role this season, this is good news for him as well as Washington because Ish Smith is out for about one more month due to a quadriceps injury. As for the playoffs, the Wizards are still 1.5 games behind the Chicago Bulls for the 10th seed, where they would have to win twice in a tournament to get a berth in the Round of 16.