Malevy Leons signs contract with Oklahoma City Thunder

[Da Coach]

Malevy Leons signs an Exhibit 10 contract with Oklahoma City Thunder- https://bradleybraves.com/news/2024/...rafted-by.aspx

Article from OKC Thunder- https://okcthunderwire.usatoday.com/...hibit-10-deal/

An Exhibit 10 contract is a contract that allows the NBA team to convert the player's 1-year deal into a two-way contract.
This virtually assures that Malevy will play in the NBA Summer League with the Thunder, and he'll have a good chance of making their G-League team.

[Da Coach]

More info on the Exhibit 10 contract- https://www.sportsbusinessclassroom....0that%20amount.

[Da Coach]

Former SIU and Illinois star Marcus Domask, who also went undrafted, has signed an Exhibit-10 contract with the Chicago Bulls - https://x.com/IlliniMBB/status/1806485242762416462

[Stevezall]

So Great to hear a Bradley player get a NBA contract! Way to go Malevy Leon's signing with the Oklahoma Thunder!!!!!

[Da Coach]

Dave Eminian article - https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports/...s/74240608007/

[BU freak]

Leons will go down as one of the best BU players ever. Top 5 defensive player ever on the Hilltop. Great guy as well. The sky is the limit!! Best of luck!

[Da Coach]

SIU's Xavier Johnson signs with the Dallas Mavericks - https://x.com/SIU_Basketball/status/1806490653762719923
And one-time Saluki Lance Jones signs with the Indiana Pacers - https://x.com/BoilerBall/status/1806492264996188350

[Da Coach]

Malevy Leons signs an Exhibit 10 contract with Oklahoma City Thunder- https://bradleybraves.com/news/2024/...rafted-by.aspx

Article from OKC Thunder- https://okcthunderwire.usatoday.com/...hibit-10-deal/

An Exhibit 10 contract is a contract that allows the NBA team to convert the player's 1-year deal into a two-way contract.
This virtually assures that Malevy will play in the NBA Summer League with the Thunder, and he'll have a good chance of making their G-League team.

Looks like Oakland's Jack Gohlke will be a teammate of Malevy's on the OKC Thunder Summer League team - https://x.com/CodyTaylorNBA/status/1806507878980673545

Jack Gohlke had a nice season with the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies (13.1 ppg, 37.6% from three) after playing 4 years at D2 Hillsdale College. But he really made a name for himself with a terrific performance in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Kentucky. He scored 32 points on 10 three pointers to lead Oakland to an 80-76 upset of Kentucky. In the second round, Gohlke scored 22 points in Oakland's 73-79 overtime loss to North Carolina State.

The Thunder have also signed these free agent players to contracts-
Tre Mitchell of Kentucky
Cormac Ryan of North Carolina
Clarance Daniels of New Hampshire
Alex Ducas of St. Mary's

And they drafted 3 players in the entry draft-
Nikola Topic- 6'6" guard from Serbia (will miss the 2024-25 season with ACL surgery)
Dillon Jones- 6'6" guard from Weber State
Ajay Mitchell- 6'5" guard from UC Santa Barbara

[Da Coach]

Malevy signs his contract- https://x.com/OneMotiveSports/status...94245766881377

[Da Coach]

Former SIU and Illinois star Marcus Domask, who also went undrafted, has signed an Exhibit-10 contract with the Chicago Bulls - https://x.com/IlliniMBB/status/1806485242762416462

Marcus Domask played on the Bulls Summer League team, and was invited to their preseason training camp. However, the Bulls waived Domask today. He could still end up with a spot in the G-League or maybe seek an opportunity to play overseas - https://x.com/sloche_o/status/1841595784266965036
>> https://x.com/chicagobulls/status/1841585277602504868

[epistibrain]

It was nice to see Malevy in preseason action on NBA TV tonight. He played the last nine minutes and got 5 rebounds, 4 points, 2 steals, and a block. Looked pretty good, although I’m guessing it will still be tough to avoid getting cut before opening day. Anyone more in tune with the NBA than I am know what his chances are?

[Da Coach]

It was nice to see Malevy in preseason action on NBA TV tonight. He played the last nine minutes and got 5 rebounds, 4 points, 2 steals, and a block. Looked pretty good, although I’m guessing it will still be tough to avoid getting cut before opening day. Anyone more in tune with the NBA than I am know what his chances are?

Nice game by Malevy. It looks like the official stats added one more rebound. It now show 4 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block in 9 minutes and 50 seconds of playing time.
Official box score - https://www.nba.com/game/okc-vs-sas-...0013/box-score

I am not an NBA expert, but OKC has a young roster, and they have 13 players on guaranteed contracts. There are also 3 players on 2-way contracts, which are partially guaranteed, and 3 (including Leons) on the Exhibit 10 contract, which is not guaranteed. The Exhibit 10 contract players do not usually make the team roster, and end up either getting waived, or making the G-League roster. - https://www.spotrac.com/nba/oklahoma...ap/_/year/2024

NBA rosters have 15 players, plus up to 3 two-way contracts. However, their roster is not real deep with the power forward position, or with forwards who can defend, rebound, and shoot. So Malevy has a chance to make the final roster. But OKC probably wants him to get stronger and bulk up a little. So, maybe it's more likely he'll start the season in the G-League where he'll get a lot of playing time.

[Da Coach]

Malevy Leons highlight reel from last night's game - https://x.com/PAlthoff5/status/1843655060401860853

[epistibrain]

So Malevy has a chance to make the final roster. But OKC probably wants him to get stronger and bulk up a little. So, maybe it's more likely he'll start the season in the G-League where he'll get a lot of playing time.

Thanks for the info! He does look pretty thin compared to other NBA players, but the long reach that made him so good at Bradley is still getting him blocks and steals, it seemed.

[Da Coach]

Another opinion from an NBA fan and blogger - https://x.com/finleykuehl/status/1843710500951240932

And the NBA tweeted the top rookie performances from last night's preseason games (includes Malevy) - https://x.com/ProspectsStats/status/1843647711087636878