The Timberwolves have signed free agent guard Nojel Eastern, the team announced today in a press release. Details of the agreement weren’t revealed, but it’s almost certainly a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract.
Eastern, a former Purdue standout, has spent the past two seasons playing for the Iowa Wolves, Minnesota’s G League affiliate. In 29 games in 2024/25, he averaged 12.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.4 steals in 30.0 minutes per contest, with a strong shooting line of .514/.419/.744.
Eastern, who earned Big Ten All-Defensive honors in 2019 and 2020, appears likely to continue his career within the Timberwolves’ organization after suiting up for the team at the Las Vegas Summer League team in July.
An Exhibit 10 deal will put him in line to earn a bonus worth up to $85,300 on top of his base G League salary if he’s waived by Minnesota and then spends at least 60 days with the Iowa Wolves this season.
The Timberwolves now have 19 players under contract, including 13 on guaranteed deals, Bones Hyland on a partially guaranteed contract, three players on two-way pacts, and Johnny Juzang and Eastern on non-guaranteed deals.