The Sacramento Kings have two players on two-way contracts who likely should be on the main roster. That's not possible as salary cap issues prevent them from getting signed. Regardless, Jonathan Mogbo has the chance to lock down a future spot by impressing this season.
A huge upside to two-way contracts is that they don't count towards the salary cap in the NBA, though each team can only have a max of three. That means those three athletes can play for the main roster during the regular season without impacting the bottom line.
The downside is two-way players can only play a limited number of games on the main roster, 50 in total throughout the season. They also can't play in play-in or playoff games. That's only a concern to teams who will make the postseason, which the Kings sure aren't worried about at the moment.
What that means is a player like Mogbo has 50 opportunities throughout the regular season to make a good impression on the coaching staff. It's safe to say he already started that process in the Summer League. He was an absolute standout for the Kings. Now, he just has to keep that rolling.
Mogbo has to be ready to shine when the Kings call
As it stands right now, Sacramento has two standard contracts available as well as one two-way contract. For Mogbo, that means potential gaps in the rotation he needs to be ready to fill at a moment's notice. Taking full advantage of every opportunity will be key for him
Still, the Kings are currently considering signing at least Victor Oladipo to fill those one of those last two spots. Despite Sacramento's current financial issues, there is a scenario where they might be able to sign an additional veteran point guard to fill out the roster.
While that would be good for Darius Acuff Jr. who needs their guidance and backup, that would potentially limit minutes for a two-way player like Mogbo. As Kings' fans saw last season, injuries can come out of nowhere and in batches. Mogbo must remain ready to fill in when an opening appears.
At the very least, Zach LaVine and likely De'Andre Hunter will exit into free agency at the end of this season. Even with a potential two new vets on the roster, those departures create new future openings. If Mogbo continues to impress this season from a two-way, one of those spots will be his.
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