Kawamura joins Clippers, the Los Angeles Clippers announced Monday when they signed Japan national team guard Yuki Kawamura to an Exhibit 10 training camp contract.
The 25 year old guard stands 172 centimeters, about 5 feet 8 inches, and earned attention at the Paris Olympics for his speed and court vision, the Clippers said in a team announcement.
Last season Kawamura played in 18 NBA games for the Chicago Bulls, averaging 3.4 points and 2.6 assists, according to NBA statistics. In the NBA G League he averaged 18.7 points, 11.0 assists and five rebounds across 11 games, per G League statistics.
This summer Kawamura played in the NBA Summer League with the Indiana Pacers, where he averaged 8.2 points and 4.8 assists in five games, NBA Summer League statistics show. His control of the offense and playmaking drew the Clippers interest, the team said.
Kawamura joins Clippers, what the contract means
The Exhibit 10 contract is non guaranteed and does not count against the team salary cap, the Clippers said in their announcement. Exhibit 10 deals give young players a chance to earn a training camp roster spot and allow teams to convert the deal to a two way contract if the player performs well in camp and preseason.
If Kawamura impresses in training camp and the preseason, the Clippers may convert his Exhibit 10 deal into a two way contract, which would allow him to appear in regular season NBA games. The team did not provide details on guaranteed money, which is typical for Exhibit 10 signings.
Pairing with Rui Hachimura lifts Asia profile
The signing is notable because Kawamura will join fellow Japan national team star Rui Hachimura in Los Angeles. Hachimura signed with the Clippers in July on a two year, $28 million contract, the team announced.
Hachimura’s deal is worth about $28.1 million when converted from the Hong Kong dollar figure reported in earlier coverage, approximately 220 million HKD, using the exchange rate of 1 HKD equals $0.1275. The pairing is expected to raise the Clippers market profile in Asia, the team said.
The two veterans also made Japan’s 14 player training roster for the second round of FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers, the Japan Basketball Association announced. That shared international schedule could help accelerate their on court chemistry ahead of the NBA season.
What to watch in training camp
Coaches will monitor Kawamura’s decision making under pressure, defensive matchups and ability to run an NBA offense, scouts said. His Summer League play and G League track record give the Clippers a reason to evaluate him closely during camp.
If Kawamura earns a two way contract, he would split time between the Clippers and their G League affiliate, with the immediate goal of adding depth at the guard position and building the Japan connection that fans and the franchise hope will translate into regular season contributions.
