Lee Hyun-jung, a key player for the South Korean men's basketball team, continues his pursuit of a spot in the NBA.
On September 7, his agency, Epic Sports, announced that Lee has signed an 'Exhibit 10' contract with the Portland Trail Blazers ahead of the 2026-2027 season.
The Exhibit 10 contract is a one-year, non-guaranteed deal at the NBA minimum salary. While it does not guarantee a spot on the official roster, it provides Lee with the opportunity to participate in the team's official training camp to showcase his skills.
Even if he does not make the final roster from the camp, there are still pathways available. He could play for the Rip City Remix, Portland's G League affiliate, and aim for a roster spot. If he performs well in the G League, he could transition to a two-way contract, allowing him to move between the NBA and the lower league, and potentially earn bonuses after fulfilling certain conditions set by the team.
This offseason, Lee participated in the Summer League with the San Antonio Spurs and attended mini camps with several teams, including the Boston Celtics, to evaluate his skills. Last season, he demonstrated significant growth while playing for the Nagasaki Velca in Japan's B.League, where he led in three-point shooting percentage (47.9%) and was named the championship MVP.
According to Epic Sports, after negotiating with multiple teams, including Boston and Nagasaki, Lee decided on Portland after considering the role they offered, the team's long-term vision, and their player development plans.
Kim Byung-wook, CEO of Epic Sports, stated, "Although we did not ultimately secure the desired two-way contract, I am confident that this Exhibit 10 contract will serve as an important starting point for Lee Hyun-jung to build a larger career in the NBA."
With his contract situation resolved, Lee will now focus on the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. He departed for Nagoya on September 7 and is set to play his first game against Saudi Arabia on September 10.
Lee expressed his commitment, saying, "I will give my all on the court to help the team achieve the best possible results in this tournament."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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