The Utah Jazz are making a move to bolster their developmental pipeline, signing forward Blake Hinson to a two-way contract, according to his agent Paolo Zamorano.
Hinson, 26, has been turning heads in the G League this season with the Rip City Remix, Portland’s affiliate. He’s averaging an impressive 21.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game-numbers that speak to his scoring versatility and ability to hold his own on the glass. While he’s still waiting on his first official NBA minute, his production at the G League level has clearly put him back on the radar.
This isn’t Hinson’s first brush with the NBA. After going undrafted in 2024, he signed a two-way deal with the Lakers, but didn’t stick.
He then landed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Warriors later that offseason, only to be waived before the season tipped off. The Trail Blazers gave him another Exhibit 10 shot in September, but again, he was waived the same day and redirected to the G League.
Despite the early roster shuffling, Hinson has stayed the course-and it’s paying off. His scoring punch and size on the wing make him an intriguing fit for a Jazz team that’s clearly thinking long-term with this move.
Before turning pro, Hinson carved out a solid collegiate résumé with two seasons apiece at Ole Miss and Pitt. He earned second-team All-ACC honors in 2023 and followed it up with a first-team selection in 2024. That kind of upward trajectory tracks with what we’re seeing now in the G League-a player who’s still developing, but who knows how to produce.
The Jazz had an open two-way slot after dealing John Tonje to the Celtics on Thursday. Hinson joins Elijah Harkless and Oscar Tshiebwe as Utah’s current two-way players, rounding out a trio that offers a mix of grit, upside, and positional flexibility.
For Hinson, this is another chance to prove he belongs at the next level. And for the Jazz, it’s a low-risk, high-upside bet on a player who’s been grinding and growing with every stop.