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Indiana Pacers salary series: The two-way contract guys

By Tony East

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 15: Edmond Sumner #5 of the Indiana Pacers shoots the ball against the Charlotte Hornets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 15, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers were wearing jerseys referring to the real-life 1911 Indiana high school state championship team featured in the movie "Hoosiers." 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.(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 15: Edmond Sumner #5 of the Indiana Pacers shoots the ball against the Charlotte Hornets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 15, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers were wearing jerseys referring to the real-life 1911 Indiana high school state championship team featured in the movie "Hoosiers." 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.(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Edmond Sumner Indiana Pacers
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 6: Edmond Sumner #5 of the Indiana Pacers is introduced before the game against the Houston Rockets during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 6, 2018, at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Could Edmond Sumner or CJ Wilcox get a promotion?

Well, that depends on a lot of things.

Alex Poythress got his promotion last year for two reasons, and they are the main two reasons that a player would get promoted from a two-way deal. One is that he played well and earned a promotion, like in any other job.

But the other reason is the more important one. Even if Poythress deserved a promotion, giving him a full NBA deal costs the Pacers cap space – whereas a two-way deal doesn’t. But Poythress could no longer be on a two-way contract, he made it through all of his 45 days. Thus, the Pacers had to promote him if they wanted to keep him around. If not, they would just lose him for nothing.

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That scenario is the best chance for either of Wilcox or Sumner to get the call-up. If either of them play with/practice with the Pacers for 45 days, the team could decide to sign them for the rest of the season instead of losing them for nothing. They would have to waive a different player to do so, but crazier things have happened.

Wilcox seems like the more likely candidate to earn a promotion. He has NBA experience and plays behind the most injury prone player on the team, Tyreke Evans. If Evans misses an extended amount of time, Wilcox could be called to action to soak up some minutes on the wing in his absence.

Sumner probably won’t get much playing time. He is stuck behind three point guards on the Pacers, and though he played some shooting guard in summer league, he probably isn’t ready to do that on the NBA level. That means it will be uphill sledding for Sumner to get a promotion from his two-way contract.

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