The Los Angeles Lakers signed a handful of players on two-way contracts during the 2023-24 season and one of them was guard Skylar Mays.
A second-round pick in 2020 by the Atlanta Hawks, Mays actually entered last season on a two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, with whom he finished the previous season. He even managed to convert that two-way contract into a standard NBA contract and shined when given the opportunity.
Due to injury, Mays was thrust into the Trail Blazers’ starting five games and averaged an impressive 12 points and 8.2 assists during that span. But Portland ended up releasing him on Jan. 6.
Two days later, Lakers sign Mays to two-way contract where he split time between the main roster and the South Bay Lakers of the G League. Mays would appear in 17 games for the Lakers, mostly in timeouts, averaging 1.3 points while shooting 40 percent from three-point range.
Mays did, however, showcase his talents in the G League, as he was excellent in seven games with the South Bay, averaging 21.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists while shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 43.2 percent from three-point range.
Highlights of the 2023-2024 season
Mays’ best game with the Lakers was, arguably, his first game against the Phoenix Suns. With the game decided, Mays made his Lakers debut in the fourth quarter and showed exactly what he was capable of, hitting 5-of-6 shots, including two 3-pointers, to finish with 12 points.
In terms of the season, his biggest moments came in Portland, most notably in November, when he had back-to-back double-doubles. Mays scored 18 points and had 11 assists as a backup against the Sacramento Kings, then added 15 points and 12 assists in his first game with the Blazers, proving he can contribute if given the opportunity.
Outlook 2024-25
The Lakers decided to part ways with Mays this offseason, signing undrafted rookies Armel Traore and Blake Hinson to two-way contracts to go along with the return of Colin Castleton. Mays did not play for any Summer League teams and remains a free agent as of this writing.
The point guard has proven that he can play at the NBA level if given the opportunity and should be able to earn a training camp invite from a team. Mays is a good shooter, a solid playmaker, and a capable defender, which is what any NBA team looks for in a good backup point guard. Mays hasn’t gotten that opportunity yet, but if he continues to work hard, it’s only a matter of time before it happens.
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