Quadir Copeland Signs Two-Way Contract with Houston Rockets

After not hearing his name called during the 2026 NBA Draft, former NC State point guard Quadir Copeland didn’t have to wait long to find his NBA opportunity.

Copeland quickly signed a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets, giving him a chance to prove he belongs at the highest level of basketball.

 

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It’s expected that Copeland will earn a salary of $680,985 during the 2026-27 season.

Historic Season at NC State

Copeland made the most of his lone season in Raleigh.

He finished the regular season with 435 points and 205 assists, becoming just one of three ACC players over the past 30 years to record at least 400 points and 200 assists in a single regular season.

The other two players to accomplish the feat are:

Jerian Grant (Notre Dame)
Greivis Vasquez (Maryland)

At NC State, only Chris Corchiani had previously reached those benchmarks, totaling 435 points and 265 assists during the 1990-91 season.

One of the ACC’s Best Guards

Copeland earned Third Team All-ACC honors after averaging:

2025-26 Statistics

• 13.9 points per game
• 6.5 assists per game
• 3.6 rebounds per game
• 1.8 steals per game

He finished second on the team in scoring while leading the entire ACC in assists.

Copeland also led the Wolfpack in steals, consistently impacting games on both ends of the floor.

His leadership and energy made him one of the emotional leaders of NC State’s team throughout the season.

What Is a Two-Way Contract?

Two-way contracts were created to help NBA teams develop young talent while providing roster flexibility.

Players on two-way contracts can split time between an NBA team and its G League affiliate throughout the season.

A two-way player can appear in up to 50 NBA regular-season games while continuing to receive valuable development opportunities in the G League.

The contracts also benefit NBA teams because they carry little to no salary cap impact, making them one of the league’s most cost-effective roster tools.

Strong play can quickly lead to a standard NBA contract.

Copeland will be expected to spend a majority of next season with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets G-League Affiliate team.

Final Thoughts

While Copeland wasn’t selected in the NBA Draft, signing a two-way contract with the Rockets gives him exactly what every undrafted player is looking for…an opportunity.

After etching his name in the NC State record book and establishing himself as one of the ACC’s top point guards, Copeland will now get his chance to prove he belongs in the NBA.

Given the way he exceeded expectations throughout his collegiate career, betting against him would be unwise.