Lee Hyun-jung Signs Exhibit 10 Deal with Portland, Continuing NBA Dream

South Korean men's basketball ace Lee Hyun-jung is continuing his pursuit of playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) despite accepting a minimum salary contract.

Epic Sports, Lee's agency, announced that he has signed an "Exhibit 10" contract with the Portland Trail Blazers ahead of the 2026-2027 season.

An Exhibit 10 contract is a one-year, non-guaranteed deal at the minimum salary level.

While it does not guarantee a spot on the official roster, it invites the player to the team's training camp, giving them an opportunity to prove their skills.

Even if he ultimately fails to make the roster, a player can receive a separate bonus by spending a designated period with the team's G League (NBA minor league) affiliate, making it a common pathway for players knocking on the NBA's door.

Through this contract, Lee will participate in Portland's training camp, and if he is not included in the final roster, he can continue pushing for a roster spot with the Rip City Remix, Portland's G League affiliate.

If he delivers impressive performances with Rip City, the deal could be converted into a "two-way contract," allowing him to move back and forth and play for Portland.

Lee discussed his future with other teams during this offseason, including the NBA's Boston Celtics and the Nagasaki Velca of Japan's B.League where he played last season, but his final choice was Portland.

Kim Byung-wook, CEO of Epic Sports, stated, "Although it did not ultimately lead to the targeted two-way contract, we are confident that this Exhibit 10 contract will serve as an important starting point for player Lee Hyun-jung to open up a greater career on the NBA stage."

Having finalized his destination for the next season, Lee plans to focus on national team training and matches ahead of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Lee said, "I will pour everything out on the court so that the national team can achieve the best possible results in this tournament."
 
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.