Brisbane Bullets big man Will Magnay has reportedly signed a two-way deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, according to ESPN.
The buzz around Magnay has been consistent over the past 6 months with strong interest from several coming from the Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs before Magnay made his decision to sign with the Pelicans.
22-year-old Magnay averaged 8.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks during the 2019-20 NBL season with the Bullets, which earnt him the league’s Most Improved Player award. Magnay also led the NBL in blocks last season.
Multiple members of the NBL media have all but confirmed Magnay’s NBA status for the past few months with Boomers legend Chris Anstey giving him a firm endorsement earlier this week.
“Will’s going to play in the NBA next year and he’ll have a choice as to where,“ Anstey told AAP of Magnay, who had a potential NBA deal scuppered by injury last season.
“Some NBA people I keep in touch with (at Anstey’s former club Dallas) have him rated among the top three centres in the draft and no doubt others have as much interest.
NBA two-way contracts are an opportunity for teams to sign a player who is allowed to play a maximum of 45 days on an NBA roster. The remainder of the season the player is expected to play with the teams G League affiliate.
Players earn $75,000 while they are in the G League and roughly $204,000 if they spend the maximum 45 days on an NBA roster
Former Brisbane Bullet Torrey Craig signed a two-way deal with Denver in 2017 which saw him then play in 39 NBA games. Craig’s play as a two-way player then earned him a multi-year deal the following season worth $4 million dollars.
Magnay will join budding NBA superstar Zion Williamson and alongside recently acquired New Zealander big man Steven Adams. The Pelicans have also sign-up a new head coach in Stan Van Gundy.
Training camps are expected to begin on December 1 and the 2020-21 NBA regular season kicks off on December 23 (AEDT).
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
