The Trail Blazers have done a great job using two-way contracts as a pipeline for talent in recent years. Sidy Cissoko and Caleb Love best exemplify this, as their surprising ascensions into rotation contributors were crucial for the team in 2025-26. Portland has also had success with Trendon Watford, Duop Reath, Skylar Mays, and more since two-ways were introduced in 2017-18.
Yesterday, the Blazers inked John Tonje to a two-way deal, and all signs point to Tonje being the next name on their long list of hidden gems. The fit here couldn’t be better.
John Tonje is the perfect two-way signing for the Blazers
The two weaknesses everyone has emphasized when it comes to the Blazers are shooting and wing depth. The lack of perimeter proficiency has been obvious for a while, but the depletion of the wing room is a new development from this offseason after Jerami Grant and Kris Murray were traded and Matisse Thybulle left in free agency.
With those shortcomings in mind, the John Tonje signing looks awesome. Portland’s front office is clearly mindful of what their roster is missing. The former 53rd overall pick has a lot to offer as a role player, but his strongest asset is his off-ball shooting on the wing.
As a rookie in the G League last season, the 25-year-old shot 37.0% from three on 5.8 attempts per game. In his pre-draft campaign at Wisconsin, he lit the Big Ten on fire from deep, drilling 38.8% of his treys on volume while averaging 19.6 points. His stroke is pure, and his touch is silky, also evidenced by him shooting over 90% from the charity stripe both in the G and during his senior year with the Badgers.
Tonje couldn’t have landed in a better situation
Two-way players don’t get handouts in the NBA. They have to earn their opportunities. The main way guys can build trust with coaches is having a defined skill or two that makes putting them on the floor worthwhile. For Tonje, that’s shooting. If the Blazers need more spacing, they can feel comfortable testing out the sophomore. Once he’s out there, he’ll be able to display his ability to attack closeouts, get to the line, and compete on defense as well— all the things that will help him stick.
Even though so many teams have unearthed legitimate NBA players through two-ways, some clubs continue to underinvest on that front. Portland isn’t one of those (borderline) incompetent franchises. They’ve already seen the upside of developing these fringe players, and signing Tonje shows they’re serious about reaping the benefits more often.
That’s good news for Tonje, who didn’t get a fair shake with the Jazz or the Celtics as a rookie. He has a lot to prove, and he’s eager to establish himself in this league. Portland should give him the chance to spread his wings, and if they do, the odds are slim that they’ll regret it.
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