GSWCBA

Deivon Smith in his second game for Santa Cruz off the bench as they get the win:

32pts (career-high)
9rbs (season-high)
7asts
9/17 FG
4/6 3PT (season-high 3PM)
5/7 FT
+13

Santa Cruz starters vs the Hustle tonight.

Finally starting to get healthier with McMillian, Moni, and Bolden all returning to the line-up on the second night of a back-to-back in Memphis.

Malevy Leons filled up the box score for the Santa Cruz Warriors this morning:

19pts
15rbs
5asts
3blks
1stl
9/16 FG

Devion Smith with an impressive Santa Cruz Warriors debut, including a season-high in points.

26pts
7asts
5rbs
2blks
1stl
9/18 FG
2/4 3PT
3/5 FT

Smith hurt his knee late in the 4th quarter, but did return to finish the game. Hopefully nothing serious.

Sequences like this are why Desmond Cambridge Jr. has been such a great rotation player.

Tough turnaround J followed up with a decisive interception for a transition dunk to put the Warriors up 87-84.

Ridiculous bank shot from Leons, he's got some crazy offensive moves in his arsenal

Nice sequence from Malevy Leons here showing his IQ & versatility.

Blocks a 3 at the top of the key and gets the transition lay-in. Then pokes away the entry pass to jump-start a breakaway, and on the counter smartly uses his body to slow it down to allow Jack Clark to clean up.

YouTube video by NBA G League Santa Cruz vs Memphis (2/11/2026)

Morning Hoops 🏀

Santa Cruz Warriors take on the Memphis Hustle
G: Franco Miller Jr
G: Taevion Kinsey
F: Malevy Leons (TW)
F: Jack Clark
C: Ja'Vier Francis

Reserves: Deivon Smith, Desmond Cambridge Jr.

SCW only has 7 available this morning. Chance McMillian was a late scratch.

From a roster construction standpoint, it might be more prudent to look at a wing or someone with TW-eligibility past this season.

That's been the m.o. for GSW so far, signing both Cryer and Leons to multi-year two-way deals.

But Bolden has earned an NBA opportunity somewhere.

Keep an eye on Marques Bolden as a potential candidate for the Warriors' vacated TW spot.

He's been a consistent presence this season for Santa Cruz (15.2ppg, 8.8rpg, 1.3bpg on .487/.376./744), emerging as a respectable threat from deep.

He is nursing a knee injury and his return is TBD.

Yup it's for players with no existing rights.

The picks themselves are not valuable, but they're the only form of trade currency outside of players, so they're really useful from a transactional standpoint.

Yeah I'm not sure about this one, just off the profile/stats. I'm guessing they really liked something about his game.

This iteration of the FO has been very aggressive (12th trade of the season) and focused on rookies.

The Santa Cruz Warriors acquired G Deivon Smith from the College Park Skyhawks in trade today in exchange for 2026 1st & 2nd Rd picks in the G League draft.

Smith is a 23-year-old rookie averaging 8.3ppg, 4.2rpg, 4.1apg on .464/.250/.750.

Riley Grigsby was waived subsequently.

Warriors Cap & Salary

As expected, Pat Spencer gets his Two-Way converted to a standard rest-of-season minimum, filling the Warriors' 14th standard spot.

2025/26: $857,804
2026 (RFA): $2,753,508 (Qualifying Offer)

Warriors have until March 4th to fill his vacated two-way.

docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

Has to be the best win on the year, what an effort in that 4th quarter from a shorthanded group.

Have to build on it and close out the year strong as they get closer to full strength.

Pat Spencer has officially used up all of his Two-Way games.

With the way he's played and the injuries they have, hard to see them not convert him by Saturday.

Santa Cruz Warriors' Charles Bassey returns to the 76ers on a second 10-Day today following the expiration of his first deal yesterday.

After this, the Sixers would have to sign him to a rest-of-season contract or move on.

SCW retains his G League rights.

They'll have until March 4th to fill the vacated Pat Spencer two-way spot.

If they stay in-house, the name I would keep an eye on is: Marques Bolden.

He's been having a really great season for the Santa Cruz Warriors (15.2ppg, 8.8rpg, 1.3bpg on 487/.376/.744).

They'll keep the 15th spot open moving forward to see if anyone interesting becomes available in the buyout market.

They have $3.5M cushion below the hard cap to play around with.

Otherwise, I'd expect another two-way conversion the last day of the season (Leons?).

With the trade deadline passing, the Warriors have a couple more minor housekeeping items to take care of:

First, they will need to sign a 14th player by Feb. 19.

This will come in the form of a Pat Spencer conversion, whose last available NBA game on his Two-Way is tonight.

Correction on this, no TPE generated for the Warriors due to being a 1st Apron team and using the Aggregated
Standard TPE to complete the trade, so the normal salary matching rules of the Expanded TPE do not apply.

The Warriors created a $9.2M TPE in the JK/Buddy trade which will expire next year.

It will essentially replace the $8.8M Kyle Anderson TPE, which will expire tomorrow.

Getting an unprotected 2nd for TJD is some good business though.

While he was a serviceable depth big, the fit wasn't the best, and the Warriors have found good value in the 2nd Rd and get another opportunity to do so this draft.

I'd keep an eye on the Warriors' potentially salary dumping Horford by the deadline tomorrow. Feels a little redundant to have him on the roster now with Porzingis and Post.

Would be good for them to get out of his $6M player option for next season.

However, this is another case of the Warriors completely wiffing on a young asset.

Jordan Poole was salary dumped with a protected 1st and Rollins for an expiring salary.

Wiseman turned into a player they could've re-signed in free agency.

JK brings back an expiring salary.

like the concept of Porzingis as a stretch big, but his health is a huge question mark. Fits stylistically better than JK for sure.

Love Buddy, but he was redundant with Richard/Moody/Seth,and they get off his money.

Reduced payroll and teams a little better (hopefully?).

Warriors Future Salary Outlook

2026/27
🔹8 players under contract (3 Player Options)
🔸UFA: Porzingis, GP2, Seth Curry
🔹RFA: Post, Santos
🔸2026 Draft: 1x 1st and 1x 2nd picks
🔹$33M below 1st Apron
🔸$46M below 2nd Apron

A look at the Warriors' cap sheet following both trades: 🔹Opened two roster spots
🔹Cut 25/26 total payroll by $26M (salary+tax)
🔹Cut 26/27 total payroll by $74M (salary+tax)

The Warriors shed almost $1M in salary and an additional $6.7M in tax payments through this trade.

Create a roster spot as well, which they can use to convert Pat Spencer into at any point from now until the end of the season.

SCW HC Lainn Wilson on Taevion Kinsey's chances of an NBA call-up with his play this season:

"I hope teams are taking notice. You're not going to find a better locker room guy. His game has gotten so much better....we rely on him a lot."

Kinsey hasn't missed a game this year.