Can a player on a two-way contract accrue Bird Rights?

A player on a two-way contract can indeed accrue Bird Rights in a manner similar to standard contract players. Bird Rights are a function of a player's tenure with the franchise, as they enable teams to exceed the salary cap to re-sign their players after a certain period. While two-way contracts have specific limitations regarding the number of games a player can participate in with the NBA team, the time spent on such contracts contributes towards the duration needed for Bird Rights to be established when they eventually transition to a standard NBA contract.

This understanding is essential because Bird Rights allow teams to retain players by being able to offer more competitive contracts, which can be especially valuable for franchises looking to build continuity and long-term success. For instance, a player who has been with the franchise on a two-way deal and then gets promoted to a standard contract can utilize those accrued rights when negotiating their next contract, thus benefiting both the player and the team.