The Utah Jazz entered the 2026-27 season with three players on two-way contracts: forward Blake Hinson, guard Trey Alexander and forward-center Tamar Bates. Two-way deals allow each team to sign up to three players who can appear in as many as 50 NBA games, and only players with three or fewer years of NBA service are eligible.
Blake Hinson re-signed in February on a two-year, two-way contract after posting 11.9 points per game in 14 appearances last season. The 6-foot-8 small forward shot an efficient 46.8 % from three-point range. Since the close of the 2025-26 season he has shed more than 20 pounds, a transformation that has increased his mobility on defense. Assistant coach Steve Wojciechowski praised the change, saying, “Blake’s had a great summer, he’s lost a bunch of weight. He’s going to shoot a really good percentage, but it’s the other areas of the game that the conditioning improvement have allowed him to make an impact defensively. Just the way he moves offensively and defensively, he’s really taken a step forward.”
Trey Alexander entered the league undrafted after stints at Indiana and Missouri. He previously spent two seasons on two-way deals with the Denver Nuggets and the New Orleans Pelicans, appearing in 33 NBA games with limited minutes. The 6-foot-5 guard participated in three Las Vegas Summer League games for the Jazz before a rib contusion sidelined him for the matchup against the San Antonio Spurs. Alexander’s size and playmaking ability make him a solid pick-and-roll option, even though his first-step speed is not elite.
Tamar Bates signed a two-way deal with the Denver Nuggets last season but missed the majority of that campaign due to injury. While she did not log NBA minutes, her experience in the G League positions her as a potential depth option at forward-center for Utah. The Jazz will evaluate her health and readiness before allocating NBA minutes.
These three contracts give the Jazz valuable roster elasticity without using standard-contract slots. Hinson adds a floor-spacer who can guard multiple positions, Alexander provides a versatile backup for the guard rotation, and Bates offers size and rebounding depth when injuries arise. The strategy aligns with Utah’s recent emphasis on developing undrafted talent while preserving cap flexibility.
Looking ahead, Hinson could earn minutes early in the season if the rotation stays healthy, while Alexander is expected to split his time between the Salt Lake City Stars and the Jazz, positioning himself for a call-up as the guard corps settles. Bates will need to demonstrate durability in the G League before the coaching staff considers adding her to the active roster later in the year. Together, the trio represents a low-cost, high-upside investment that could shape the Jazz’s roster for the next two seasons.
