Jazz Sign Hayden Gray To Two-Year Contract
11:44 am: Gray’s deal is now official, per NBA.com’s transaction log.
9:20 am: The Jazz are signing guard Hayden Gray to a two-year contract, agent George S. Langberg tells Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). The deal will cover the last game of the 2025/26 season and all of ’26/27, though next season is unlikely to feature any guaranteed money.
Gray, who went undrafted out of UC San Diego in 2025, signed a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract with Boston last July and was waived in September, lining him up to spend his first professional season with the Maine Celtics in the G League.
The 6’4″ shooting guard made 48 appearances for Maine in 2025/26, averaging 9.9 points, 5.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 steals in 27.8 minutes per game, with a .417/.332/.744 shooting line. Gray has a reputation for being an excellent defender — as a college senior in ’24/25, he led all Division I players in steals (3.1 per game) and was named the Big West’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Utah opened up a spot on its 15-man roster when guard Kennedy Chandler‘s 10-day contract expired overnight on Friday. Gray will fill that newly created opening and appears set to finish the season as the Jazz’s 15th man, while Chandler is once again an unrestricted free agent.
Gray’s rest-of-season salary will depend on whether he signs on Saturday or Sunday and whether the Jazz decide to give him more than the minimum. But at the very least, he’ll earn $7,315, which would be the prorated rookie minimum on Sunday. His salary for next season – which, again, is unlikely to be guaranteed – figures to be $2,150,917.
Celtics Waive Hayden Gray
The Celtics have opened a spot on their training camp roster by waiving Hayden Gray, according to NBA.com’s official transaction log.
The 22-year-old guard signed an Exhibit 10 contract in July after going undrafted out of UC San Diego. He was a member of Boston’s Summer League team, getting into one game and putting up seven points, two assists and two steals in 20 minutes.
Gray is expected to join the G League’s Maine Celtics, Smith adds. The Exhibit 10 deal will make him eligible for a bonus worth $50,000 if he spends at least 60 days with the team.
Gray was the Division I leader in steals with 3.1 per game last season. He also averaged 11.2 points, 3.3 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 35 games while shooting 47.9% from the field and 41.8% from three-point range.
Gray’s departure leaves Boston with 20 players, one short of the offseason limit. Three new signings became official earlier today.
Hayden Gray Signs Exhibit 10 Contract With Celtics
Rookie Hayden Gray has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Celtics, Spotrac contributor Keith Smith tweets.
Gray led Division I in steals last season, averaging 11.2 points, 3.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game in 35 starts for UC San Diego. Gray, a 6’4” guard, shot 47.9 percent overall and 41.8 percent on 3-point attempts. He was a two-year starter for the Tritons.
Gray was a member of the Celtics’ Summer League team and appeared in one game, posting seven points, two assists and two steals in 20 minutes.
“I’ve got pretty good anticipation, reading the ball-handler’s eyes, knowing where they want to go with it,” Gray told Noa Dalzell of CelticsBlog. “I take pride in defense. A lot of teams are really focusing on creating more possessions, and I think I can do that by causing turnovers and also just being a floor general, handling the ball, and setting the table for everyone.”
If Gray is waived, he would be in line for a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he joins the G League’s Maine Celtics and spends at least 60 days with Boston’s affiliate.