What's an NBA Exhibit 10 contract? Breaking down Malevy Leons' Thunder deal

While the Oklahoma City Thunder technically added to their roster with Malevy Leons, they didn't use their vacant two-way spot to sign him. Instead, the NBA champion brought the 25-year-old back for a second season with an Exhibit 10 deal.

Most NBA fans understand the 15 standard roster spots and the three two-way deals. Not so much with Exhibit 10 contracts. They only get brought up in the offseason and training camp. Teams can carry 21 players in the offseason, which means a handful of Exhibit 10 players can be on the roster at the same time before the regular season starts.

So what exactly is the Exhibit 10 deal that Leons signed? It's a one-year, non-guaranteed agreement. It was introduced in the 2017 CBA. In most cases, teams utilize it to add to their training camp rosters and allow undrafted rookies and fringe NBA players they're interested in a chance to show out in the preseason.

Once training camp ends, Exhibit 10 players must either get signed to a two-way deal or be sent to the G League affiliate. In Leons' case, the Thunder likely signed him to retain his G League rights. He spent most of last season on the G League's OKC Blue after he went undrafted out of Bradley. He was also with their Summer League squad this offseason.

Once Leons reaches 60 days on the Blue, he'll receive around a $75,000 bonus because of his Exhibit 10 deal. This encourages players to remain with their NBA franchise instead of electing to go play overseas or for another team if they aren't converted to a two-way deal after training camp.

Odds are, Leons won't be the only Thunder player on an Exhibit 10 deal when their 2025-26 training camp starts in a couple of months. Expect them to add other players who are possible two-way candidates. Brooks Barnhizer and Branden Carlson are OKC's two two-way players.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: What's an NBA Exhibit 10 contract? Breaking down Malevy Leons' deal