The excitement of the Pelicans fans was not without reason.

If Rondo is the current player in the league most suitable to be a coach, then Nash is definitely the most suitable retired legend.

Compared to Kerr, these two have much higher tactical and technical qualities.

This news made the Pelicans fans very excited and boosted the morale of the Pelicans. They couldn't wait for the new season.

However, with nearly a month before the start of the season, the Pelicans management first had to finalize their roster.

At least before the start of the preseason, they had to fill the roster to 15~17 players.

After Xiaohua's return, his re-elected speeches mentioned the legalization of gambling and shortening the season, but those were things that would be implemented slowly in the future.

There are things for the future, and of course, there are things that will be implemented immediately. A new measure that will be implemented in the new season is the two-way contract.

This measure is the same as the time point in history when it appeared, and it is also one of Xiaohua's many reforms that have been recognized by fans and the outside world.

The so-called two-way contract is a new contract provision introduced by the league to alleviate the shortage of personnel in each team.

nBA competition is fierce, with each team having a 15-man roster, 30 teams, although people come in and out, the total number of players is limited to 450.

For the world, this number is extremely cruel to players.

It is the same for nBA teams, 15 players are sometimes not enough for them.

The reason for this phenomenon is mainly in two aspects: injuries and players' performance being worse than expected.

There is no need to say more about injuries. Some unlucky teams have only 7 players or less playing when it is serious, and there are no substitutes.

The other is a more common phenomenon than injuries, players' performance being worse than expected.

Except for superstars, other players signed by the nBA may have such possibilities and risks.

Once a player's performance declines a lot or does not meet the coaching staff's requirements, the team's personnel will be stretched.

It should be noted that it is very difficult to trade players who are performing poorly.

The two-way contract is also a new measure based on this fact.

The so-called two-way contract refers to a contract that can be played in both the nBA and its subordinate development league at the same time.

Players who sign this contract can play for the parent team for a maximum of 45 days, and the salary is calculated on a daily basis, but they cannot play in the playoffs.

There are other detailed regulations regarding two-way contracts.

For example, players who have had 3 years of playing experience in the nBA cannot sign this contract, this contract can be signed for a maximum of 2 years, a player can sign for a maximum of 3 years in a team, the salary of players with this contract will not be included in the salary cap, but they cannot be traded, etc.

In short, this is a way for nBA teams to increase the number of team places outside the 15-man roster.

For other players, this is also a buffer ladder for them to enter the nBA.

nBA competition is fierce, with thousands of troops crossing a single-plank bridge.

Most players have to fight all the way from the Summer League, the preseason, to the regular season to finally enter the big roster and stay, the chances are slim.

This is equivalent to taking a super big step, which most people cannot do.

But a two-way contract is a buffer ladder that allows them to stand closest to the nBA door.

It should be noted that 45 days of service is not short. Once you seize the opportunity and perform well, the chance of signing a formal contract is much higher than others.

Moreover, the salary of this contract is higher than that of the development league. According to the rules issued by the league, the minimum salary for a two-way contract in the new season is 75,000 US dollars.

This is basically the salary of the top players in the development league.

For those players who are determined to enter the nBA but cannot get good contracts overseas, this is a very suitable way for them.

This is also a good thing for the Pelicans.

Although the backcourt is sufficient, having two two-way players can make them prepared.

Dempsey naturally asked Tang Tian about this, and Tang Tian also gave him several suggested candidates.

Quinn Cook, Dillon Wallace, Alex Caruso, C.J. Williams.

It is not easy to make a name for yourself with a two-way contract, these are a few of the few he remembers.

Dempsey contacted them one by one according to the list given by Tang Tian.

Cook refused and chose to sign a 2-year non-guaranteed contract with the Atlanta Hawks.

The nature of a non-guaranteed contract is similar to that of a two-way contract, but the good thing is that if you can avoid being cut before the start of the season, you can be converted into a formal contract.

The same situation also happened to C.J. Williams, who signed a 3-year non-guaranteed contract with the Clippers.

From this, it can be felt that in the players' understanding, the level of a non-guaranteed contract is higher than that of a two-way contract.

Dillon Wallace also politely declined the Pelicans, believing that his chances of being promoted to the Pelicans were slim.

Of the four, only Caruso finally accepted the Pelicans' two-way contract.

This sophomore from Texas A&M University was not selected in last season's draft.

After signing with the Thunder, he was also cut before the start of the season and spent most of last season in the Development League.

He did not receive a non-guaranteed contract from other teams this season, and had only received a two-way contract from the Lakers before.

After weighing the pros and cons, he finally chose the Pelicans.

Dempsey gave the other spot to an overseas player since he only signed one of the people he wanted to sign.

He moved quickly, and two days later, he brought the two two-way contract players to training camp.

Players with two-way contracts do not have lockers in the parent team. Signing this contract means that they will spend most of their time playing for the Pelicans' subordinate team.

The Pelicans established a subordinate team two years after winning the championship, the Erie BayHawks, located in Birmingham.

It is worth mentioning that although it is a subordinate team, the Hawks play in the Legacy Arena, which can accommodate 17,000 people.

Benson was willing to invest in the team, and he was even more willing to spend money after the Pelicans became a championship team.

Siakam played for the Hawks last season, helping the team win the championship and winning the Finals MVP.

The Development League does not receive much attention, but this is also one of the reasons why Siakam has made such great progress in the new season.

Dempsey brought two two-way players, but almost scared Tang Tian.

Caruso was born in 1994 and is only 23 years old now, but his obviously balding hair, coupled with the stubble, looks like he is 43 years old.

This is probably the only existence that is bald without Tang Tian touching his head.

But this is obviously not the reason for Tang Tian's surprise, after all, he still has some impression of Bald Mamba.

What really surprised him was the other two-way player.

Dempsey actually signed Ding Yanyuhang!

No, it was Ding Yanyuhang who actually accepted the two-way contract!

Unlike in history, Ding Yanyuhang did not take a closed needle for the Finals. He signed a contract with the Mavericks' Development League last season and played for a year.

But the Mavericks are a championship team, and he has never had a chance. In the end, he failed to make the big roster.

Unexpectedly, Dempsey signed him this season!