Raptors Quickly Cut Hoggard After Signing
The Raptors signed and then waived guard AJ Hoggard on Thursday. His contract almost certainly featured Exhibit 10 language, making him eligible for a bonus if he spends 60 days with Raptors 905. Hoggard played for Toronto's G League affiliate last season, averaging 11.3 points and 6.3 assists per game.
Hoggard’s path to the NBA has been unconventional, spanning five college seasons before going undrafted. Toronto’s G League affiliate selected him 10th overall in last fall’s draft, and he spent the entire 2025-26 campaign with the 905. His regular-season production—11.3 points and 6.3 assists per game—showed playmaking ability, though his shooting splits were modest. The Exhibit 10 clause in his contract is a standard tool for teams to retain G League rights while offering a financial incentive for development. By waiving him quickly, the Raptors preserve flexibility while likely ensuring he returns to their developmental system for a second season.
This transaction reflects the NBA’s growing reliance on two-way and Exhibit 10 deals to cultivate talent outside the main roster. For undrafted players like Hoggard, such moves offer a stable, albeit modest, pathway to professional basketball and potential future call-ups. For the Raptors, it’s a low-risk investment in organizational depth. The broader impact is on the G League’s role as a true minor league, where players may accept short-term uncertainty for a chance at long-term opportunity, though only a small fraction ever reach the NBA.