Former Illini Coleman Hawkins signs with the Denver Nuggets

Coleman Hawkins has signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Denver Nuggets. The Former Illini forward will hopefully be making his NBA preseason debut soon after spending time with the Golden State Warriors summer league team. After four years at Illinois, Hawkins transferred to Kansas State to play one season. During that one season, Coleman Hawkins averaged 10.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.3 blocks. Ultimately, Hawkins went undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft before playing for the Golden State Warriors Summer League team. Coleman had limited minutes, however showed his defensive versatility and shooting ability.

With this Exhibit-10 deal, Hawkins will likely be playing in the NBA G League.

What is an Exhibit-10 deal?

Per Yahoo Sports, an Exhibit-10 deal is a one-year, minimum salary agreement that is NOT guaranteed. However,  players can earn an optional bonus of up to $75,000 that will be rewarded if a player, after he’s waived, spends at least 60 days with a team’s G League affiliate. On the flip side, teams can convert an Exhibit-10 contract into a two-way deal, which involves guaranteed money.

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