The Minnesota Timberwolves have a two-way opening on the books, but that doesn’t exactly change the picture much.
On Tuesday, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that the Wolves were set to sign Norchad Omier to a two-way contract. A few hours later, Scotto said Omier had changed course and is now headed to the Cleveland Cavaliers on a two-way deal instead.
That leaves Minnesota in the same basic spot it has been in for a while: with a two-way vacancy that may not matter all that much, especially given how little the team has leaned on those players in actual NBA games.
The Wolves have recently cycled through a few two-way decisions, including the waiver of Enrique Freeman. Freeman spent all of last season on a two-way contract with Minnesota and appeared in four NBA games, logging 37 minutes.
He was waived shortly before the season because the Timberwolves were thought to be searching for another available player to fill the spot. When nothing materialized, they brought him back.
Freeman is now dealing with a right shoulder injury that is expected to keep him out for a couple of weeks.
Minnesota’s track record with two-way players has been thin. Around the league, players like Ajay Mitchell and Daniss Jenkins have turned two-way opportunities into standard contracts. That kind of path just hasn’t happened for the Timberwolves, who are among the teams that use those roster spots the least.
Rocco Zikarsky is one of the exceptions, though even his usage has been limited. The 7-foot-3 center, selected 45th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, spent all of last season on a two-way deal and played in five games for Minnesota, totaling 36 minutes. He is viewed as a long-term piece for the organization.
Through the Timberwolves’ first eight games, Zyon Pullin is the only two-way player to get on the floor. He has played in two games and totaled six minutes.
Omier, a 6-foot-7 forward, spent the preseason with Minnesota before being waived ahead of the regular season. His preseason line wasn’t strong, as he shot 3-for-14 from the field, though he did help on the offensive glass. Undrafted in 2025, he played in six games for the Los Angeles Clippers last season.
Even if Omier had stayed with the Timberwolves, the expectation was that he would have spent most of his time with the Iowa Wolves in the G League. That would remain true for whoever eventually fills Minnesota’s open two-way slot, whether it’s a new addition or Freeman again once he’s healthy enough to return.
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