Guard Yuki Kawamura, a member of Japan’s National Team, has agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with the Grizzlies.
Kawamura’s agreement was announced in a press release by the Yokohama B-Corsairs, his current team.
Kawamura is scheduled to sign the NBA contract with the Grizzlies in September. He’ll continue to play for the Japanese team until he signs the contract. He averaged 20.9 points and 8.0 assists per game for the Yokohama B-Corsairs last season.
Kawamura, 23, had a stellar game in the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, posting 29 points, six rebounds and six assists in Japan’s near-upset of France. The 5’8” Kawamura was whistled for a controversial foul call which led to Matthew Strazel‘s four-point play in the closing seconds of regulation. France won in overtime, 94-90.
Exhibit 10 deals, which are non-guaranteed, can be converted to two-way contracts. They can also ensure a player receives a bonus worth up to $77.5K if he’s waived before the regular season begins and then spends at least 60 days with his club’s G League affiliate.
I’ve been saying this guy deserves a shot in the NBA for over a year. He’s short, but who cares? He can create space, pass like a superstar, shoot off the dribble at a very high rate, and despite his size has great strong hands with elite quickness laterally. He can hang in the NBA, I am sure of it.