Max Strus had given the Boston Celtics a reason to think twice. He scored a game-high 14 points in a preseason win over Cleveland in October 2019, making a strong push for one of Boston’s final roster spots. Yet a few days later, the Celtics waived him. They chose to keep Javonte Green, whose athleticism and defensive versatility offered something different to the team. Boston had seen the scoring. It still decided that another player was a better fit.

Strus eventually rebuilt his career, became a starter for Miami during its 2023 NBA Finals run and later signed a four-year, $63 million contract with Cleveland. His journey does not mean every preseason cut is a mistake. It does show why a roster decision can look very different in the moment than it does years later. Golden State now faces a similar question about a young guard, although Miles Kelly’s situation is different: he was on a training-camp deal rather than competing for a guaranteed rotation role.

The Golden State Warriors announced the decision on October 11, waiving Kelly and signing forward Tyler Burton to an Exhibit 10 contract. “The Golden State Warriors have waived guard Miles Kelly; it was announced today,” the team stated in its official announcement. “In a related move, the Warriors have signed free agent forward Tyler Burton.” The move came days after Kelly’s 24-point performance against Portland, where he added seven rebounds and six assists while shooting 6-of-11 from three. The key question is not whether Kelly had a good night. It is why Golden State chose to use its training-camp spot on a forward instead of keeping a guard who had just shown what he could do as a scorer.

Kelly’s 24-point night was only part of the picture

Kelly’s Portland performance was not just a scoring burst. He finished with 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting, including six three-pointers, while adding seven rebounds and six assists in 28 minutes off the bench. That combination matters because it shows he contributed beyond putting the ball through the basket. But one strong outing cannot settle the bigger question of whether a player can hold a place in an NBA rotation.

Across three preseason appearances, Kelly averaged 10.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 13.8 minutes per game. He shot 50% from the field and 53.3% from three, according to the figures reported around his release. Those are encouraging numbers, especially for a young guard trying to make an impression in limited minutes. Still, the sample was small, and his Portland performance accounted for a large share of his preseason production. It would be unfair to treat that game as proof that Golden State made the wrong decision. It would be equally unfair to dismiss it as meaningless.

Kelly’s contract also matters here. An Exhibit 10 deal gives a team a way to bring a player into training camp while preserving a possible path to its G League affiliate. It is not the same as a guaranteed standard NBA contract. According to the reported terms of Kelly’s deal, he can earn a bonus of up to $91,000 if he joins the Santa Cruz Warriors and remains with the affiliate for at least 60 days, subject to the applicable contract and league requirements.

Kelly’s release does not necessarily close the door on Golden State. His Exhibit 10 deal offered a potential path through Santa Cruz, and his preseason shooting gives him something to build on. The next challenge is turning that promising performance into consistent production over a longer stretch.

Why Burton fits a different need

Burton brings a different profile to the roster. The 6-foot-7 forward appeared in 12 NBA games for Memphis during the 2025-26 season, averaging 10.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in 25.6 minutes. His shooting numbers tell a more mixed story: he made 37.5% of his field-goal attempts and 33.3% of his threes, while shooting 85.2% from the free-throw line. Those figures show why his scoring average alone should not be used to judge what he can bring to Golden State.

His G League record provides more context. The Memphis Hustle’s official transaction announcement listed Burton with 51 appearances across two seasons, averaging 16.9 points and 4.8 rebounds in 29.2 minutes per game. He has experience producing at that level, but he still has to prove he can turn that production into a consistent NBA role. His size gives the Warriors another forward option; it does not guarantee him minutes.

Golden State had already acquired Burton’s G League rights in a three-team deal involving Santa Cruz, Memphis and the Long Island Nets. Memphis acquired Yuri Collins’ returning rights from Long Island and a 2027 second-round pick from Santa Cruz, while sending Burton’s returning rights to Golden State. Santa Cruz also sent a 2027 first-round pick via Wisconsin to Long Island. Burton’s Exhibit 10 signing followed that earlier transaction, giving the Warriors a way to evaluate him in training camp while keeping his G League pathway in place.

Golden State already has established guards in Curry, Podziemski, Melton and Payton II, while Burton gives the team another forward to evaluate. His size and rebounding offer a different profile from Kelly’s perimeter shooting, but the move alone does not establish which player has the higher ceiling. That will depend on what each player does with his next opportunity.

Podziemski’s $110 million deal is a separate decision

Kelly’s release came shortly after Golden State agreed to a five-year, $110 million extension with Podziemski. The timing invites comparisons, but the contract mechanics do not support the idea that the extension forced the Warriors to waive Kelly. Podziemski’s new deal begins in 2027-28, while Kelly was on a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 training-camp contract. The two moves serve different purposes.

Kerr was clear about how the organization views Podziemski’s future. “I’m thrilled for Brandin and his family, really happy for us,” the Warriors coach said. “Obviously, everything came together and it’s a win-win. We think Brandin is a hell of a young player, a big part of our future, and he secures his future financially. And it’s a deal that makes a lot of sense based on our numbers.”

General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. offered a similar view: “We’re thrilled to get an extension done with Brandin prior to the deadline. Brandin has continued to improve and expand his game since he entered the league as a mid-first round pick, and we think his upward trajectory will only continue. He’s a durable, skilled, two-way player that makes our team better each time he takes the court.”

Podziemski, who averaged 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists while appearing in all 82 games last season, described the extension as a sign of trust. “For me it shows a sign of faith and trust on their end, wanting me here. I think for me I just owe it right back to them. They’re putting their trust and faith in me so I got to do the same and play that way each and every night.”

The $110 million headline is eye-catching, but the extension begins in 2027-28 with a reported starting salary of $18.9 million and includes a mutual option for 2031-32. Its actual cap impact depends on the contract’s structure, not simply the $22 million average annual value.

Kelly’s 24-point performance made the Warriors’ decision surprising, but it did not guarantee him a roster spot. Golden State has moved on to Burton, whose size gives the team a different option to evaluate, while Kelly could still pursue another opportunity through Santa Cruz. For Kelly, the Portland performance is now a benchmark rather than a guarantee. His next chance will show whether that night was an isolated burst or the start of a case for another NBA opportunity.