Jazz Sign 3 Players to Exhibit 10 Contracts: How They Fit

The Utah Jazz are gearing up for the start of the 2023-24 season. With preseason set to start in a little over a month, the Jazz have continued to make some moves around the edges of the roster.  

It was reported last week that the Jazz signed three players to an Exhibit 10 deal. While this likely means that this trio will headline the SLC Stars in the G-League this year, their contract situation, combined with Utah’s roster flexibility, gives them room to grow with an impressive camp. 

Let’s examine these three players and what they bring to the team. But first, a brief explanation. 

Exhibit 10 contracts are unique in that they can be waived with the team’s G-League affiliate retaining rights to the players. These contracts also can be converted to two-way deals, which gives the team the ability to play them in a limited number of NBA games. 

While the Jazz have already filled all three of their available two-way slots, an impressive camp from any of these new signees could persuade them to shake things up.

Taevion Kinsey | G

The all-time leading scorer at Marshall University, Kinsey was with the Jazz during Summer League. He has a knack for scoring the basketball but most impressive to me was his efficiency in doing so. 

During his fifth season at Marshall, Kinsey shot 54% from the floor as he averaged over 22 points, five rebounds, five assists, and nearly two steals per game. He's a bouncy athlete who can finish at the rack with authority. 

The one area where Kinsey struggles is as a shooter. In his college career, he was around the 30% mark on low volume. 

While I do suspect Kinsey will be with the Stars this year, he would be worthy of adding to the roster on a two-way contract because of his ability to impact the game in multiple ways.

Nick Ongenda | C

The 6-foot-11 big man from DePaul was one of the standouts of Summer League to me. Ongenda's activity around the basket, both offensively and defensively, was very impressive. 

Despite an injury keeping Ongenda out for most of his senior year, he was still able to block an eye-popping 4.4 shots per game, a number that comes close to the 4.6 mark that current Jazz big man Walker Kessler turned away at Auburn. Ongenda’s fluidity, size, and activity make him tough to play against. He should be a big part of the Stars if he’s unable to steal a two-way contract in the crowded Jazz frontcourt.

Romeo Langford | G

A former lottery pick out of Indiana, Langford has had a tough time finding his footing in the NBA. Mainly due to injuries (he has yet to play more than 48 games in a season), it felt like the former top-five high school prospect was on his way out of the league. 

While his NBA career has left a lot to be desired, I have hope that coach Will Hardy and his developmental staff can get the most out of yet another reclamation project. Langford is still just 23 years old and hopefully, with a clean bill of health, he can discover some of the offensive ability that made him such a coveted prospect. 

In his one-and-done freshman season at Indiana, Langford averaged 16.5 points, five rebounds, and two assists per game. While he has yet to consistently show his ability to score at a high level in the NBA, Langford showed signs of being a plus defender for the San Antonio Spurs last year. 

Because of his athletic profile and talent, Langford has the best shot at poaching a contract from the Jazz. On top of that, if he’s unable to secure a spot out of training camp, in-season moves from the Jazz could lead to a promotion for the 6-foot-6 wing at some point throughout the season. 

Hopefully, Langford is finally able to put it all together.

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