Golden State Warriors strengthened the fringes of their roster — simultaneously boosting their G-League ranks in Santa Cruz — by signing and waiving guards Chance McMillian and Deivon Smith.

Both players, who shone during the Warriors' Summer League championship run in Las Vegas in July, were signed to Exhibit 10, non-guaranteed training camp deals on Wednesday. They were both waived shortly after.

The move by the Golden State front office was a strategic one, as players on Exhibit 10 contracts receive small bonuses and are given a further financial incentive to sign with the team's G-League affiliate if they are waived.

By signing and immediately waiving the duo, the Warriors secured the returns of McMillian and Smith to Santa Cruz, where they both impressed last year.

McMillian, 25, is a local Bay Area talent, hailing from Vallejo. He played college ball at Grand Canyon University and Texas Tech before going undrafted in 2025.

The Warriors picked him up, and he repaid the organization's faith in the G-League, averaging 17 points and five assists per game while shooting 35.7 percent from beyond the arc. 

A 6-foot-3 two-guard, McMillian flashed readiness to contribute in the big leagues with a stellar Summer League campaign. He shot an eye-catching 51.4 percent from three, averaging 10 points per tilt over nine SL and California Classic games.

Smith, 24, joined the Warriors' G-League team late last year. However, that didn't stop him from finishing the campaign in red-hot form and picking up right where he left off in the summer. 

An undrafted combo guard out of St. John's, Smith began his NBA journey with the Atlanta Hawks G-League affiliate. He played just nine games with the 'Dubs' at the back end of the season and impressed with his versatility and ability to score.

Smith averaged 17.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game in Santa Cruz. He then went on to pour in 21 points, adding nine rebounds, in the Summer League championship game — helping the Warriors and MVP Yaxel Lendeborg to the title — as Golden State defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 94-90.

The Warriors have a long-standing history of promoting players to the main roster from within. Smith appears to be a prime candidate for an opportunity going into a season in which head coach Steve Kerr and his staff may need some time to figure things out after missing out on all their big free-agent targets in the offseason. 

Smith has experience adapting to new situations, having played for four different schools in five years in college. He can shoot the deep ball and playmake, all while having no fear on the glass — despite standing at just 6 feet.

The scoring punch Smith could provide is something that may set him apart initially, should he continue his success in training camp and the G-League. However, his intangibles can keep him around, running alongside the likes of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, and company.