The Santa Cruz Warriors, the G-League affiliate of the Golden State Warriors, might not grab headlines like their NBA counterparts, but they're making moves worth watching. Recently, they acquired Deivon Smith, a 6-foot guard formerly with the Atlanta Hawks, in a trade that could shake things up.
On February 10, Santa Cruz announced the acquisition of Smith from the College Park Skyhawks. In return, they sent a first-round pick from Rip City and a second-round pick from South Bay via Long Island for the 2026 NBA G League Draft to College Park.
Smith, who didn't make the Hawks' opening night roster, joined the Skyhawks and put up solid numbers, averaging 8.1 points and 4.3 assists per game. His shooting stats were a mixed bag, hitting 42.6% from the field but struggling with a 14.3% success rate from three-point range.
Since joining Santa Cruz, Smith has been turning heads. In just two games, he's averaging an impressive 29.0 points and 7.0 assists per game, with shooting percentages that have skyrocketed to 51.4% from the field and a remarkable 60% from three.
While it's early days, Smith's athleticism and speed suggest he could be a key player for Santa Cruz. His performance is definitely something the Warriors should monitor closely as the season progresses.