The Los Angeles Lakers made a new addition this offseason. The Lakers signed center Kylor Kelley to an Exhibit 10 contract. Jovan Buha of The Athletic shared the news via Twitter/X.
The Lakers have signed center Kylor Kelley to an Exhibit 10 contract, league sources said @TheAthletic. Kelley played last season in the G League with the Maine Celtics.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) 14 August 2024
An Exhibit 10 contract is a one-year, no-guarantee minimum wage agreement. It was introduced in the 2017 collective bargaining agreement and can include a $75,000 option bonus.
Kelley comes to the Lakers after a career as a migrant worker in the G League. The 26-year-old former Oregon State Beaver has come a long way. Kelley went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft and signed with the Spurs shortly before the start of the 2020-21 season.
After the 2020–21 season, Kelley decided to take his talent overseas, where he played for the London Lions and Bakken Bears in the Champions League and Danish Basketligaen. In 2022, he returned to the G League, re-signing with the Austin Spurs.
Weeks later, however, he signed with the Raptors 905 and brought his talent to the Calgary Surge of the Canadian Elite Basketball League.
In October 2023, Kelley signed with the Boston Celtics, was released the next day, but joined their G-League affiliate, the Maine Celtics. Kelley has been through it all so far and will do his best to find a home with the Lakers.
Last season with the Maine Celtics, Kelley averaged 7.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 2.9 blocks in 22 minutes of play per night.
The Utah native stands 7’4″ and weighs 215 pounds. Kelley knows what it’s like to move from team to team because that’s what he did during his college career, transferring from Northwest Christian to Lane Community College before landing at Oregon State.
Kelley’s senior year was notable: He became the Beavers’ all-time leading blocker in a win over Stanford in January 2020 and finished the season averaging 11.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game, earning him a second-time selection to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team.
If Kelley is good at anything, it’s defense. Last season, he was named to the NBA G League All-Defensive Team and was the NBA G League’s best blocker. Defense is Kelley’s strength and it’s something the Lakers desperately need.
The Lakers are missing another intimidating blocking player other than Anthony Davis. If Kelley can shine in training camp and beyond, there could be a role for the former Beaver on JJ Redick’s roster.
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