Daniel Hamilton signs first two-way contract with the Thunder
By Tony Heim
On the eve of Russell Westbrook day in Oklahoma City, the OKC Thunder made a splash. They signed Daniel Hamilton to the first two-way contract in franchise history.
At long last, Sam Presti has utilized one of the two designated roster spots for two-way contracts. Daniel Hamilton signed the organization’s first ever deal Thursday afternoon, effectively staking his claim as the Thunder’s next up-and-coming perimeter player.
The contract specifics
The two-way contract is a new concept for the NBA. Players on these contracts spend up to 45 days with their NBA affiliate during the season; the rest of their time is spent in the G-League. The salaries work the same way.
Players on these contracts make $75,000 for their time in the G-League, then they scale the rookie minimum ($815,615) down to however many days the player is with the NBA team.
It works like this: say Hamilton uses all 45 days with the Thunder. He would make a little over $100,000 on top of the $75,000 he gets with the OKC Blue. Fantastic.
The player
I love Daniel Hamilton. In fact I went on an incredibly detailed monologue about him in the inaugural OKCulture Pod that dropped a day before this new broke. Hamilton is a three-and-d prospect who also can facilitate the offense with above-average court vision.
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He was picked 56th overall by the Denver Nuggets in 2016, but Oklahoma City traded for his draft rights on Draft night. In Hamilton’s first season with the OKC Blue he averaged 14.9 points, 8 rebounds and 4.7 assists. He recorded a triple-double December 28th against the Reno Big Horns. And that’s not even the most impressive part about him.
In his last season at UCONN Hamilton shot 33% from three on nearly four attempts. In his only season with the Blue he hit 37% on over five attempts a game. One season of improvement is an incredibly small sample size, but it goes to show the work he put in to earn this two-way deal.
Assuming Hamilton continues this rate of growth, don’t be surprised to see him reach a guaranteed contract with OKC next offseason.
Keep working Mr. Hamilton. You’re time is coming very very soon.