Knicks make surprise two-way contract roster move by signing rival wing
You’re not alone if you’re trying to figure out how many two-way contract spots the New York Knicks have.
The front office signed Jaylen Martin to a two-way deal after the 2023 NBA Draft, and although there’s been some confusion over Nathan Wright’s contract with New York, it’s been confirmed that he is on a two-way deal. The Knicks re-signed Trevor Keels to a two-way deal as expected, meaning the team doesn’t have an open two-way slot.
Yup, Knight, Keels and Martin are all officially on two-ways, per source. So there has to be a corresponding move once Windler becomes official. Can only have three two-way contracts on the roster. https://t.co/4kVQZKW8td
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) July 24, 2023
However, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Dylan Windler agreed to sign a two-way contract with New York.
Free agent G/F Dylan Windler has agreed on a two-way contract with the New York Knicks, agents Andy Shiffman and Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tell ESPN. Windler was the 26th overall pick to Cleveland in the 2019 NBA Draft.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 24, 2023
The new CBA allows teams to carry three two-way roster spots instead of two. As The Athletic’s Fred Katz noted on July 21, the Knicks extended a qualifying offer to Duane Washington Jr. this offseason, who ended the 2022-23 season on a two-way. If Washington accepts the offer, New York will have to release another player.
Knicks agree to sign former first-round pick Dylan Winder to two-way contract
At the age of 26, Dylan Windler still has a ton of upside after spending his first four seasons in the league in Cleveland. He missed his rookie 2019-20 season because of a lower leg injury. He played in a combined 81 games over the next two seasons before an ankle injury limited him to appearing in only three games in 2022-23.
Windler has 4 years of service which would make him ineligible to sign a Two-Way contract.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 24, 2023
However, because he missed the entire 2019-20 season with an injury, he is counted with only 3 years of service.
The new CBA provision is named after former first rd. pick Harry Giles. https://t.co/FT6IDzAEmF
Windler finished his stint with Cleveland averaging 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game in 84 contests.
Windler played a vital role in the Cavaliers’ defensive scheme in 2021-22, although his shooting dropped the following season. He went from averaging 5.2 points on 44/34/78 shooting splits in his first full season playing to averaging 2.2 points on 38/30/83 splits in 2021-22.
His ankle injury hindered his development in his fourth season. However, perhaps Windler can still materialize into a version of the knockdown shooter that Cleveland thought he’d be when the organization drafted him in the first round four years ago.
Signing Windler to a two-way contract is about as solid a move that the Knicks could’ve made in that department. If he can stay healthy, not only will Dylan Windler make some noise in Westchester, but he could find himself getting some minutes here and there in Tom Thibodeau’s rotation.
