In the first piece of real Clippers’ news in a while, Michael Scotto of Hoopshype says they will sign guard Xavier Moon to an Exhibit 10 contract. Scotto, a fairly reliable NBA reporter, also says that Moon will have the opportunity to compete for the team’s remaining two-way deal (Moussa Diabate and Jordan Miller have the other two). An Exhibit 10 deal is essentially just a training camp invite that can be converted to a two-way and provides $50K as a bonus if the player is waived and joins the G-League team of that NBA organization.
Xavier Moon has, of course, spent the last two years in the Clippers’ organization, joining them on a variety of 10 day contracts, training camp deals, and two-way deals. He hasn’t played much in the NBA, just 157 minutes (nearly all in garbage time) across 14 games, but has been a mainstay for the Ontario Clippers. At 28.5 years old, Moon has no upside, but he’s a competent 3rd string point guard and the Clippers love him in the locker room and as a leader of the G-League squad.
It seemed like the Clippers let him test the free agency market to see if any NBA team would offer him guaranteed money and/or more of a role, but unfortunately that didn’t happen, so Moon is back again. I’d wager he could get more money overseas, but maybe he just prefers being in the US or having a better chance at a mid-season NBA call-up. Who knows.
Moon’s chances of making that last two-way spot are anyone’s guess. I’d personally prefer someone younger and with more long-term upside get that deal, but it’s low stakes and the Clippers like having him around, so he has a decent shot at it probably. The only other reported training camp signing is rookie guard Xavier Castaneda, which our friend Law Murray reported all the way back in July, but its quite possible that has changed over the past few months. If the Clippers do make a deal for Harden or another star and lose some of their depth, having a more experienced and ready player like Moon on a two-way could also be more valuable.
Regardless, welcome back to the Clippers, Xavier!
