Israeli point guard Noam Yaacov signed a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers after not receiving approval to play for the University of Utah. The contract, which is for one season at the league minimum salary, invites him to training camp and allows teams to evaluate players with minimal risk. It also enables Yaacov to move between the Cavaliers’ NBA roster and their G League affiliate, managed by Liron Fanan, who was named the NBA G League's Executive of the Year last season.
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An Exhibit 10 contract can be converted into a two-way contract before the regular season begins, which would allow Yaacov to play for both the NBA team and the G League affiliate, participating in up to 50 regular season games with the NBA squad. Should the Cavaliers release him prior to the season, he may be eligible for a financial bonus of up to $85,300 if he joins the G League affiliate and remains for at least 60 consecutive days.
Yaacov, 21, previously played for Oostende, where he averaged 18.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game in the Belgian League. He has a diverse career history, having started at Hapoel Emek Hefer, playing for ASVEL in France, being loaned to Hapoel Jerusalem, and returning to Hapoel Tel Aviv for the 2024/25 season. After one season with Tel Aviv, he moved to Belgium and participated in the NBA Draft Combine this past summer, although he was not selected.
In a recent interview with the "Double Dribble" podcast, Yaacov expressed his determination to succeed in the G League, noting the competition among players striving for NBA contracts. He described it as a challenging environment where he aims to assert his skills and make his mark.