Damian Lillard’s Trail Blazers Sign South Korean Sensation in a Massive NBA Deal
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IMAGO / Marty Jean Louis
South Korean wing Hyunjung Lee (Lee Hyun‑jung) has signed a one‑year Exhibit 10 deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, his agency Epic Sports announced Monday. The non‑guaranteed minimum contract puts the 25‑year‑old in training camp and gives him a path to a two‑way roster spot or a G League assignment with the Rip City Remix, plus a bonus of up to $91,000 if he spends 60 days with the affiliate. Lee turned down interest from the Boston Celtics and a return to Nagasaki Velca because of the role Portland outlined and the club’s long‑term plan.
Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard is back after a full year rehabbing a torn Achilles, and Portland is stacking shooters around him. Lillard’s viral August workout, 1,100‑of‑1,168 threes, a 94.2 percent clip, showed the version of “Dame Time” Rip City is bringing back for 2026‑27. Now he’ll have Lee’s quick release and deep range to help keep the floor spaced alongside Ja Morant and Jrue Holiday.
Lee was a standout in San Antonio’s 2026 Summer League, averaging 8.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists across eight games. His 22‑point, 4‑of‑7 three‑point performance against Utah made him a fan favorite.
Two years earlier, he had already worn a Blazers Summer League jersey. Leaving the B.League champion he just led, 17.4 points per game, 47.9 percent from three, a league‑high 187 makes, Finals MVP, was the price of chasing the NBA.
“Playing in the NBA is the biggest dream of mine,” Lee said in July. “This is an opportunity that I had to take.”
Portland now pairs Lee with Chinese center Yang Hansen, a rare Asian duo if both stick. Lillard has already shown he invests in that culture, greeting Hansen in Chinese every morning.
Lee still has to beat out established wings and win a two‑way or standard roster spot. Shaedon Sharpe’s knee injury opens minutes on paper, but Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, and Jeremy Sochan sit ahead of him. The Exhibit 10 is the standard first door, not a guaranteed ticket. Even so, Portland’s camp is the closest he has come since a pre‑draft foot injury in 2022 knocked him off the board.
Lee will compete with South Korea at the Asian Games, then report to the Blazers.
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Damian Lillard spent the last part of August scoring 1,100-of-1,168 threes in a workout that immediately went viral. That 94.2 percent clip is the version of Dame Time Portland is bringing back for 2026-27. Now his Trail Blazers have added another shooter.
South Korean wing Hyunjung Lee (Lee Hyun-jung) has signed a one-year Exhibit 10 deal with Portland, his agency Epic Sports announced Monday. The non-guaranteed minimum contract puts the 25-year-old in training camp and gives him a path to a two-way roster spot or a G League assignment with the Rip City Remix - plus a bonus of up to $91,000 if he spends 60 days with the affiliate.
“Although it did not ultimately lead to the targeted two-way contract, we are confident that this Exhibit 10 contract will serve as an important starting point,” Epic Sports CEO Kim Byung-wook said.
Lee turned down other offers, including interest from the Boston Celtics and a return to Nagasaki Velca, because of the role Portland outlined and the club’s long-term plan.
Lee was a fan favorite in San Antonio’s 2026 Summer League. He averaged 8.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists across eight games. He scored 22 points on 4-of-7 shooting from deep against Utah.
Two years earlier, he had already worn a Blazers Summer League jersey. Leaving the B.League champion he just led - 17.4 points, 47.9 percent from three, a league-high 187 makes, Finals MVP - was the price of chasing the NBA.
“Playing in the NBA is the biggest dream of mine,” Lee said in July. “This is an opportunity that I had to take.”
Damian Lillard’s Return Opens the Door for Another Shooter in Rip City
Damian Lillard is back after a full year rehabbing a torn Achilles. And Portland is stacking shooters around him: Ja Morant and Jrue Holiday. Lee’s quick release and deep range are the exact skills the Blazers can use to keep the floor spaced.
The same franchise that already added Chinese center Yang Hansen now has a Korean wing who can share the locker room with him, a rare Asian pairing if both stick. Lillard has already shown he invests in that culture; he has been greeting Hansen in Chinese every morning.
Lee still has to beat out established wings and win a two-way or standard roster spot. Shaedon Sharpe’s knee injury opens minutes on paper, but Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara and Jeremy Sochan sit ahead of him.
The Exhibit 10 is the standard first door, not a guaranteed ticket. Even so, Portland’s camp is the closest he has come since a pre-draft foot injury in 2022 knocked him off the 2022 board.
Lee will compete with South Korea at the Asian Games, then report to the Blazers.
Ubong Archibong is an NBA writer at BasketballNews, bringing over two years of experience in basketball coverage. Having previously worked with BasketballNews, Sportskeeda and FirstSportz, he has developed a strong foundation in delivering timely and engaging content around the league. His coverage focuses on game analysis, player performances, and evolving narratives across the National Basketball Association. Blending statistical insight with storytelling, Ubong aims to go beyond the immediate headline by placing performances and moments within a broader context, helping readers better understand the dynamics shaping the game. His work prioritizes clarity, accessibility, and a fan-first approach that connects audiences to both the action and the personalities behind it. Before joining BasketballNews, Ubong covered the NBA and WNBA across multiple platforms, building experience in fast-paced reporting and deadline-driven publishing. His background in content writing has strengthened his ability to balance speed with accuracy, ensuring consistent and reliable coverage for a global audience.
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