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The Lakers didn’t have any picks in the 2020 NBA Draft, but they still managed to land one of the most accomplished players in college basketball by agreeing to an Exhibit 10 contract with Oregon State forward Tres Tinkle, according to Stadium’s Jeff Goodman.
Tinkle is the Lakers’ second undrafted free agent signing, as they already added Zavier Simpson of Michigan on the night of the draft.
Wayne Tinkle, Tres Tinkle's father and Oregon State coach tells @406mtsports: "We're all thrilled with the opportunity he has. His agent thought it was the best fit all things considered: their level of interest, roster openings, needs and how Tres fits in." #mtscores
— Frank Gogola (@FrankGogola) November 21, 2020
Per Larry Coon’s CBA FAQ, an Exhibit 10 contract can be converted into a two-way contract, and also “pay the player from $5,000 to $50,000 if the player is waived by his NBA team, signs with the G-League, is assigned to the NBA team’s G-League affiliate, and stays there at least 60 days.”
Tinkle, 24, played five seasons at Oregon State and was known for his well-rounded skill set and high basketball IQ because he’s a coach’s son. His father Wayne has been Oregon State’s head coach since 2014.
Tres averaged 17.7 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.7 steals over his college career, while posting a decent shooting line of .460/.330/.788. He graduated as Oregon State’s all-time leader in scoring (2,233 points) and a three-time member of the Pac-12 all-conference team.
Tinkle faced his fair share of adversity in Corvallis, missing all but six games of the 2016-17 season after breaking his wrist. However, he bounced back the following season by averaging 20.2 points per game and hasn’t had any significant injuries since then.
Oregon State is generally one of the weakest teams in the Pac-12, but Tinkle helped lead them to the NCAA Tournament in 2016, their first time making the Big Dance since 1990, when the Beavers were led by Gary Payton.
At 6-foot-7 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Tinkle projects as 3 or 4 in the NBA. He’s an average athlete at best for NBA standards, which will limit his upside on both ends of the court.
However, his versatility and savvy could make him a useful role player, especially if he can improve his 3-point shot. He’s already adept at scoring and distributing off the dribble. To that end, it’s worth noting that Tinkle upped his 3-point percentage to 34.5% as a redshirt senior, the second-best mark of his career. (He shot 36.3% as a freshman.)
Tinkle had an incredibly high usage rate at Oregon State and could benefit from a lesser role that will get him some easier shots. And because he is already 24 and has a ton of college games under his belt, he should be able to adjust to the NBA game quicker than other rookies — obviously a bonus for a title-contending team like the Lakers.
NBA teams can bring 20 players into training camp, and while Tinkle may be bound for the G League when the Lakers have to cut their roster down, his skillset makes him worth keeping an eye on.
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