Fa la la la la, la la La Crosse. Tis the season for Exhibit 10 deals, and La Cross native and Wisconsin Badgers standout Johnny Davis is the next one to come across the wire. You can tell because, while writing this piece, Jeremiah Tilmon was signed to the same deal. I remember Davis’ rights being acquired by the Herd like it was last week. This non-guaranteed deal is another step towards him suiting up in Oshkosh.
Finley Kuehl (Kühl) spilled good ink mere hours ago explaining Exhibit 10 deals for the uninitiated. Davis and Tilmon will likely get waived and then get a cool $85K if they stay in Oshkosh for (shudder) 60 days. They join John Butler Jr., Stephen Thompson Jr. (both already waived per Keith Smith), Cormac Ryan, Lindell Wigginton, Kira Lewis Jr., and Aleem Ford at various points on this path.
Drew Gentile unpacked the lore of Johnny Davis when his rights were acquired, including a decorated college career in Madison, a less decorated NBA and G League career thus far, and an absolute flame-throwing performance against (of course) the Bucks. This move suggests that a possible two-way contract was indeed a long-shot for Davis, whose post-college career has been like La Crosse’s World’s Largest Six Pack: unimpressive. He could still yet be a Shanghai Shark, but this move brings him closer to Lake Winnebago.
Recently suiting up with Shenzhen, Tilmon could offer him some advice. Over the last few years, he has shuffled through the G League, appeared in Summer League twice with the Orlando Magic, and made an all-conference team his senior year at Mizzou.
Welcome both of them, to Milwaukee Oshkosh wherever they end up.