Tyus Battle was not selected in the 2019 NBA Draft on Thursday night, but signed as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.

His contract is an “Exhibit 10” contract, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, which can be converted into a two-way contract.

The former Syracuse guard averaged 17.2 points per game in his junior year at SU, and immediately signed with an agent upon declaring for the draft. Battle was not invited to the NBA Draft Combine.

Battle was widely predicted to be drafted following his sophomore season with the Orange, but instead returned, ensuring he would enter again the next year.

Syracuse, which opened the season in the AP Top 25, underperformed and plummeted out of the rankings behind its star Battle. SU was knocked out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament with a 78-69 loss to Baylor, and Battle reentered the draft trying to earn an invite to the NBA Draft Combine at the G-League Elite Camp.

While former teammate Oshae Brissett stood out and earned an invite, Battle didn’t and was left with only workouts and interviews.

This marks the second-straight year where no Syracuse players were selected in the NBA Draft, following five-straight years in which eight total SU players were chosen.

The Timberwolves selected North Carolina wing Cam Johnson with the No. 11 pick, but are reportedly trading him to Phoenix for Dario Saric and Texas Tech star Jarrett Culver. Battle will also join Washington guard Jaylen Nowell, who was chosen in the second round.

Published on June 21, 2019 at 12:27 am

Contact Michael: mmcclear@syr.edu | @MikeJMcCleary