NOVEMBER 29: The Cavaliers have officially signed Matthews to his Exhibit 10 deal, per RealGM’s NBA transactions log.
NOVEMBER 23: Former University of Michigan wing Charles Matthews is set to sign an Exhibit 10 contract with the Cavaliers, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. The arrangement means that Matthews will get an opportunity to compete for a roster spot during Cleveland’s training camp.
The 6’6″ guard spent one season at Kentucky in 2015/16 before transferring to Michigan, for whom he suited up from 2017-2019. During his second and final year with the Wolverines, he averaged 12.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 1.4 APG in 34 games. Matthews declared early for the draft, but tore his ACL during a team workout. Fedor reports that Matthews rehabilitated his knee in Chicago, all while starting a business and wrapping up his college degree.
Former Michigan and Cavaliers head coach John Beilen lauded the hire in a tweet. “He can become a 3 and D guy that every NBA team loves to have,” Beilen said. “He is also a fabulous teammate and high character young man.” Matthews’ mentor, per Fedor, is future Hall of Famer and fellow native Chicagoan Dwyane Wade, sent him a congratulatory tweet. “[Congrats] on signing with the [Cavaliers] lil bro,” Wade said. “Now the work starts!”
The deal qualifies Matthews for a non-guaranteed, one-year veteran’s minimum salary pact. If Matthews is waived by the Cavaliers but assigned to the Canton Charge, Cleveland’s G League affiliate, for 60 days or more he stands to earn a bonus of up to $50K. The agreement can also be converted to a two-way contract at the start of the regular season, in which case the optional bonus would be pulled. The Cavaliers currently have their two allotted two-way contracts apparently committed to guard Matt Mooney and forward Lamar Stevens.