Thunder Signed Zhaire Smith to Exhibit 10 Deal

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed the veteran guard to a non-guaranteed training camp contract.

Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Basketball

Thunder Signed Zhaire Smith to Exhibit 10 Deal

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The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed Zhaire Smith to an Exhibit 10 contract ahead of the upcoming training camp. The move allows the team to evaluate Smith for a potential roster spot for the 2026-27 NBA season.

Why it matters

The deal offers the Thunder roster flexibility and provides Smith with an opportunity to re-establish himself in the NBA after his recent stint in Puerto Rico.

Smith was the 16th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and holds career averages of 3.7 points per game on 37.8% shooting. He shot 31.6% from three-point range during his initial NBA appearances.

The players

Zhaire Smith

He is a 27-year-old guard who was selected in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft.

Oklahoma City Thunder

This is a professional basketball team that competes in the Western Conference of the NBA.

Oklahoma City Blue

This is the NBA G League affiliate team for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The details

The Exhibit 10 contract provides the Thunder with increased flexibility to manage their G League roster, as the team holds Smith's rights following his time with the Oklahoma City Blue during the 2025-26 season. Smith most recently played for Piratas de Quebradillas in 2026.

Zhaire Smith was drafted 16th overall in 2018.
Smith appeared in 13 NBA games between 2018 and 2020.
Smith played for the Cleveland Charge from 2023 to 2025.
Smith played for Piratas de Quebradillas in 2026.
The Exhibit 10 deal was signed in September 2026.

The Big Picture

The signing follows the standard operating procedure established by the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement's Exhibit 10 contract provisions. This mechanism allows teams to manage deep rosters and developmental talent through league-mandated incentives.

This signing indicates the Thunder are evaluating backcourt depth ahead of final roster cuts for the 2026-27 season. If Smith does not make the major league roster, the contract offers a path for him to remain in the organization's system via their G League affiliate.

The takeaway

Exhibit 10 contracts are essential tools for NBA teams looking to fill out training camp rosters without long-term financial commitments. Players like Smith utilize these opportunities to showcase development and fight for a final spot on a league roster.