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Gonzaga Bulldogs sophomore Zach Norvell Jr. has signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers after going undrafted last night during the 2019 NBA Draft.
Undrafted Gonzaga guard Zach Norvell has agreed to a two-way NBA contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 21, 2019
Norvell was consistently listed by many national pundits as one of the top undrafted players left in the pool, so this is of little surprise. Although it is disappointing to not hear his name alongside Brandon Clarke and Rui Hachimura, the two-way contract provides Norvell a direct line into NBA play.
Each NBA team is allowed to have two two-way contracted players. These players can spend a total of 45 days in the NBA, after which they are either sent to the G League for the rest of the year or they are converted into a regular contract. Former Gonzaga Bulldog forward Johnathan Williams III played with the South Bay Lakers and the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-way contract last season, averaging 6.5 points in 15.5 minutes per game.
Norvell can easily open eyes during Summer League play if his shot is on, and hopefully, he can consistently find a spot with the new look Lakers. Playing with the likes of Anthony Davis and LeBron James is hardly a bad thing for the resume.