The Kentucky Wildcats have another alum on an NBA team.
The latest comes in the Indiana Pacers, who signed Alex Poythress on Tuesday. It’s a two-way contract, meaning Poythress will spend time in the G-League and on the regular-season roster.
After going undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft, Poythress signed with the Indiana Pacers before being waived during final cuts. He’s since been in the D-League where he’s an MVP candidate after averaging 18.5 points on 52.7% shooting, including 40.3% from three-point land to go with 7.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.4 blocks per game.
While not a full NBA contract, a two-way contract ensures Poythress spends next season with an NBA team and possibly gets regular-season minutes. The NBA is implementing two-way contracts this year in order to add two extra roster spots, increasing the limit to 17. Those final two spots can be dedicated to two-way contract players, who can spend up to 45 days with the NBA team that signs him, although no time is guaranteed.
The rest of the player’s contract must be spent in the G-League, either for the team’s affiliate or another’s if the team he signs with doesn’t have a G-League affiliate yet. A two-way player who spends the maximum amount of time in the NBA would make $279,000. That’d be a nice payday for Poythress, who has certainly earned a chance to be on an NBA roster.