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Who should the Blazers sign with its two-way contracts?

By Nate Mann

LAS VEAGS, NV - JULY 17: KJ McDaniels #59 of the Portland Trail Blazers is names the 2018 Summer League Championship Most Valuable Player after the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 17, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEAGS, NV - JULY 17: KJ McDaniels #59 of the Portland Trail Blazers is names the 2018 Summer League Championship Most Valuable Player after the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 17, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 16: Wade Baldwin IV #2 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 16, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 16: Wade Baldwin IV #2 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 16, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Blazers benefitted from a two-way contract last season in Wade Baldwin. Will the team sign someone who can make as much of an impact this year?

Despite having no G-League affiliate, the Portland Trail Blazers utilized both its two-way contracts last season. CJ Wilcox was the first two-way player in franchise history, and Wade Baldwin IV joined him two months later.

Each guard underwent surgery before debuting in the G-League. Wilcox repaired a right knee ailment and sat out for eight weeks, and Baldwin repaired a torn right thumb ligament with the same recovery timetable.

Two-way players get 45 days with their NBA franchise, and the remaining time is spent in the G-League. Only Baldwin impressed the Blazers enough to earn that roster time after returning from injury.

He played seven games in the final month of the regular season and displayed the lengthy, in-your-face defense that helped him record 2.2 steals per game for the Texas Legends. Baldwin even earned appearances in three of Portland’s four playoff games; he played an average of 6.3 minutes per contest.

The G-League and NBA performances earned Baldwin a spot on the 2018 Summer League team. He led that squad to a championship and had his $1.54 million contract guaranteed on the final day it could be.

Having no G-League affiliate may steer the team away as its players won’t get the same time and attention as the actual affiliate’s players will, but Baldwin’s success paves the path for the Blazers to utilize its two-way contracts once again.