MAVS NEWS:

[SleepingHero]

The 2-way rules keep evolving so they are confusing, and were significantly altered during Covid year on the fly. So it's been hard to follow what are the actual rules. Unfortunately the CBA FAQ is still not updated to the 2023 CBA (not sure what's going on with that), and the two-way rules have been altered here and there in the new CBA. So unless you are willing to do digging in the CBA, it's a lot of uncertainly.

But I think Lawson could sign a 2-way with Dallas, if they both wanted that.

I also think that players who don't have NBA contracts can continue to be eligible for 2-ways, until they have 3 prior years (even 1 day on an NBA contract counts as a year) of regular NBA contracts. Lawson has only had 1 afaik.

Thank you Mr. Gump.

I've gone ahead and did some digging on the new 2023 CBA and its 2-way eligibility. 

https://imgix.cosmicjs.com/25da5eb0-15eb...-28-23.pdf

^ from the NBPA website. https://nbpa.com/cba

Here is what it states: 

Page 75: Subsection E; ii and iii

ii) No Team may sign or convert a player to a Two-Way Contract if the player has or may have four (4) or more Years of Service at any point during the Contract. For example, a player with three (3) Years of Service would not be eligible to sign a Two-Way Contract with a term of two (2) years. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Team may sign or convert a player who has four (4) Years of Service to a Two-Way Contract covering no more than one (1) Season if the player was credited with one (1) or more Years of Service in respect of a Season in which he (A) did not play in a Regular Season, Play-In, or playoff game and (B) was on a Team’s roster at all times from the first day of the Regular Season through the end of the last day of the Regular Season

iii)  No Team may sign or convert a player to a Two-Way Contract, or acquire a Two-Way Contract by means of assignment, if, as a result, the player would or could be under a Two-Way Contract for any part of more than three (3) Salary Cap Years with the same NBA Team. For example, a player who completes a two-year Two-Way Contract with a Team could not subsequently sign a two-year Two-way Contract with that Team.

So Lawson falls under 4 years of service. He has only been in the league for 2 years (1 game with MIN, 14 with DAL in 2022-23 +Last season with DAL). So he's still qualified for another 2 years of 2-way service. Thus Lawson passes the rules listed in ii. 

Now in iii, is where things get a bit weirder. By the language, any part of more than 3 salary cap years essentially disqualifies Lawson from returning to the Mavs. However, if he's allowed a 3rd year, which it could be interpreted as such given the "more than", then Lawson can sign a one year 2-way contract with Dallas, but thereafter the Mavs can only sign him to a regular season contract (even if he still has 1 more year of 2-way eligibility). In this scenario Lawson is taking a 1 year prove-it deal, which may not be in his best interests. 

If he cannot be signed for longer than 3 Salary Cap Years at all, then Lawson cannot return under a 2-way contract. I guess we'll see. Kidd's comments earlier today made it seem like Lawson won't be returning at all.