Explaining the Spurs' contract for Riley Minix and what it means exactly

For those who followed the San Antonio Spurs Summer League (most of us), several players, including Riley Minix, the 2023-24 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year out of Morehead State University, stood out. Minix had a stat-stuffing season at Morehead, averaging 20.9 points per game to go along with 9.7 rebounds. Minix had 18 double-doubles last season.

The Spurs signed him in the offseason, and he played well during the Summer League, averaging 12 points per game on 44.8% shooting, and 50% shooting from three.

What is an Exhibit 10 contract?

The Spurs inked Minix to an Exhibit 10 contract. Exhibit 10 contracts are one-year deals for the league minimum, and they were introduced in the 2017 collective bargaining agreement. Teams can offer bonuses to players that sign these contracts, worth up to $75k in 2023-24.

Exhibit 10 serves as an incentive for the player who signs it to remain with the organization, whether that be in a G league role or with the main team. If a player foregoes the contract before 60 days with the team and signs with another team or league, the player forfeits any bonus they may have agreed to.

A bonus to players who sign these contracts is that they can be converted to two-way contracts prior to the season’s start. Teams have three spots for two-way contracts on their rosters and the Spurs have signed three players to those deals already, but that doesn't mean it will remain that way by opening night.

These contracts don’t count against the salary cap during the offseason, and teams usually must decide on the player during this time, as once the season begins, thus keeping a player into the regular season, that contract counts against the cap- essentially becoming a one-year minimum salary deal. Smart use of these contracts will benefit San Antonio over time.