Sean East II is getting a shot in the pros.
The Missouri basketball guard, according to a report from Draft Express scout Jon Chepkevich, signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday after going unpicked in this week’s 2024 NBA Draft.
An Exhibit 10 deal is a one-year minimum salary contract that allows teams to trigger a two-way deal and manage their G-League rights. In essence, East is pretty much guaranteed a training camp invite with Los Angeles and likely will end up with the South Bay Lakers — Los Angeles’ G-League affiliate.
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East, a 6-foot-2 guard, is the third player to earn an NBA contract since Mizzou coach Dennis Gates took over the program. All three have started their pro careers in Los Angeles.
Program-great Kobe Brown was a first-round selection by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2023 draft. D’Moi Hodge signed a two-way deal with the Lakers but currently plays for the Rip City Remix, who are the Portland Trail Blazers’ G-League affiliate. That means Hodge and East will not reunite as teammates for the time being.
East, a Louisville, Kentucky native, spent two seasons with Missouri to close his college career after originally signing for UMass and spending a season at Bradley and John A. Logan CC. In Columbia, East saved his best individual season for last, averaging 17.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists per game and was named the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year even as the Tigers struggled to a winless record in conference play.
The Mizzou alum participated in the Portsmouth Invitational earlier this year, where he led all scorers. He also was invited to the G League Elite Camp.
Now, he’ll have a shot to earn a spot with the Lakers.