Yuki Kawamura is one of the most interesting stories of the NBA preseason. The 5-foot-8 guard from Japan is making a good impression and is already becoming a fan favorite. But his chance to make it to the NBA got harder after the Memphis Grizzlies decided to sign another player. The Japanese professional player is currently on an Exhibit 10 contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. That non-guaranteed training camp deal on a minimum salary which allows the Grizzlies to sign him to a two-way before the start of the season. Will Yuki Kawamura NBA debut happen?
Yuki Kawamura Might be the Odd Man Out in Memphis
On Tuesday, the Memphis Grizzlies announced they are signing guard Scotty Pippen Jr. to a standard NBA contract. The son of Hall of Famer and Chicago Bulls legend, Scotty went undrafted in 2022 and spent his rookie season on a two-way deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Grizzlies then picked up his two-way deal in January, and last year, he averaged 12.9 points and 4.7 assists in 21 games. During this year’s summer league, Pippen Junior averaged 21.5 points and 8.7 assists in 30.5 minutes of action. After signing Pippen, the Grizzlies don’t have an open roster spot, making it difficult for Yuki to crack the roster unless Memphis cuts someone.
Can Yuki Change the Tides?
In the last two games, both wins against the Chicago Bulls and the Indiana Pacers, Yuki was the leading assist man for the Grizzlies. He dished eight assists vs. the Bulls and seven vs. the Pacers. Against Indiana, Yuki had plenty of highlights, including a couple of no-look passes and some huge threes.
But is that enough? The Japanese maestro has one more game to prove to the Grizzlies that he can be a valuable player, and that is Saturday night, October 19th, against the Miami Heat. After that game, Yuki Kawamura’s NBA dream might be coming to an end. If the Grizzlies decide not to sign him, he will have to look elsewhere.
Can Another Team Sign Yuki?
Kawamura was part of the 2023 draft, but same like Scotty Pippen Jr., he went undrafted. That means no team has the draft rights to Yuki. The Grizzlies signed him to an Exhibit 10 contract. That contract was introduced in the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement. The one-year minimum salary agreement is not guaranteed. The contract includes a bonus of up to $75,000, which the player receives under special circumstances. After he is waived, he has to spend at least 60 days with a team’s G League affiliate.
The benefit of the Exhibit 10 contract is that it allows teams to bring in players to compete during training camp for a roster spot. Teams can sign up to six Exhibit 10 contracts. For players, it gives them a chance to make an impression on a team and make it to the NBA. For Yuki, this means that if the Grizzlies cut him, he can be a free agent if he doesn’t want to play for their G League affiliate. Or he might get a contract from another team. A recent example is Max Strus, who converted an Exhibit 10 contract to a two-way contract with the Miami Heat back in December 2020.
