NBA Two-Way Signings: Suns, Raptors, Chucky Hepburn, Nuggets

June 26, 2025

Suns

The Suns wasted little time filling out their developmental pipeline after the 2025 NBA Draft, agreeing to a two-way contract with undrafted Appalachian State forward CJ Huntley, per ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

Huntley, a 6-foot-10 fifth-year senior, spent his entire college career at App State, showing steady improvement throughout. He averaged 15.7 points and 8.1 rebounds in 2024–25, shooting 49.3 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from three.

Viewed as a potential stretch big, Huntley turned heads with a strong showing at the Portsmouth Invitational and could become a project worth watching in Phoenix.

Raptors

The Raptors are adding a defensive-minded playmaker to their mix, agreeing to a two-way deal with Louisville guard Chucky Hepburn, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Hepburn, who began his college career at Wisconsin, earned 2025 ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors in his lone season at Louisville. The 6-foot-2 guard started 137 college games and posted 16.4 points, 5.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game last season, while hitting 84.4 percent from the line.

He also came up big in March, scoring 14 points in the ACC title game against Duke and dropping 22 points with six assists in an NCAA Tournament loss to Creighton.

Nuggets

The Nuggets didn’t make a draft pick this year, but they’ve made their first move in the undrafted free agent market, signing Missouri guard Tamar Bates to a two-way contract, according to The Athletic’s Tony Jones.

Bates averaged 13.3 points per game last season and posted elite shooting splits: 50.8 percent from the field, 39.7 percent from three, and 94.6 percent at the free-throw line. Originally starting his college career elsewhere, Bates found his stride with the Tigers in 2024–25.

Denver had reportedly explored trade options to get into the draft, per the Denver Gazette’s Vinny Benedetto, but ultimately stood pat. Bates is their first reported UDFA addition, and there’s still a chance the Nuggets retain any of last year’s two-way trio of PJ Hall, Trey Alexander, and Spencer Jones.