How much patience can the Warriors afford in developing (Alen) Smailagic? Roster spots are sparse. When Golden State drafted Smailagic in June, several people in the organization told me that itโd be at least two or three years before he becomes a legitimate rotation player in the NBA. Though he showed flashes of his immense potential as a rookie, he seemed to regress as the season wore on, making head-scratching mistakes and struggling to play off the ball. The Warriors are still high on the 19-year-old Smailagic, but he clearly has a lot to learn. Next season could be critical for him. To become a long-term piece for Golden State, he must show steady improvement.
Alen Smailagic Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: F
Born: 08/18/00
Height: 6-10 / 2.08
Weight:215 lbs. / 97.5 kg.
Salary: $898,310
Born: 08/18/00
Height: 6-10 / 2.08
Weight:215 lbs. / 97.5 kg.
Salary: $898,310
How much patience can the Warriors afford in developing (Alen) Smailagic? Roster spots are sparse. When Golden State drafted Smailagic in June, several people in the organization told me that itโd be at least two or three years before he becomes a legitimate rotation player in the NBA. Though he showed flashes of his immense potential as a rookie, he seemed to regress as the season wore on, making head-scratching mistakes and struggling to play off the ball. The Warriors are still high on the 19-year-old Smailagic, but he clearly has a lot to learn. Next season could be critical for him. To become a long-term piece for Golden State, he must show steady improvement.
The Golden State Warriors have assigned forward Alen Smailagiฤ to the teamโs G League affiliate in Santa Cruz, the team announced today. Smailagiฤ has played in 17 games (15 starts) with Santa Cruz this season, posting averages of 16.3 points on 51.8 percent shooting from the field and 35.1 percent from beyond the arc to go with 6.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.00 steals in 26.3 minutes per game. The rookie forward has appeared in 13 games for Golden State, averaging 4.5 points on 52.6 percent from the field to go along with 2.1 rebounds in 10.0 minutes per game.
Connor Letourneau: The Warriors have assigned Alen Smailagic to Santa Cruz.
Monte Poole: As expected: Smiley, aka Alen Smailagic, is coming back to the NBA Warriors. He might have seen the last of the Santa Cruz Warriors.
To those who follow closely, it is known that the Warriors coveted Smailagic, so much so that they hid him from the 2018 G League Showcase. Whatโs still less well known is just what the Warriors were hiding. Even something as quantifiable as Smailagicโs wingspan is currently under wraps. We can only guess that itโs maybe 7-foot-1 or 7-foot-2. Since Steve Kerr plays the teenager only sporadically, fans never quite get a read on what theyโre trying to see. Thereโs defensive energy and effort. On offense, there are frenetic flashes, but the entire picture isnโt so clear.
Logan Murdock: Rookie Alen Smailagic has been recalled from the G-League. He is expected to be in uniform for the Warriors tonight in San Antonio.
Wes Goldberg: The Warriors recalled forward Alen Smailagic from Santa Cruz, the team announced. I expect him to get a few more minutes tonight.
Wes Goldberg: Omari Spellman (under the weather) and Eric Paschall (hip) are out. Alen Smailagic will again be active tonight vs Dallas.
Logan Murdock: After his brief debut Friday night, the Warriors have sent rookie Alen Smailagic back down to the G-League. Heโll play with the Santa Cruz Warriors in Stockton tonight alongside Jordan Poole.
Wes Goldberg: So to recap: Both Alen Smailagic and Ky Bowman are with the team following strong performances at the G League showcase.
Connor Letourneau: Draymond Green (heel) is questionable for tomorrow. Alen Smailagic (ankle) practiced today, but wonโt play tomorrow.
Logan Murdock: Warriors big man Alen Smailagic has also been cleared for on-court activity, according to the team. Meanwhile, Jacob Evans will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
Connor Letourneau: Kerr said that the Warriors haven’t had a chance to evaluate Alen Smailagic, who is nearing his return from a sprained ankle. Unclear whether he’d start his career with Golden State or head to Santa Cruz.
There is the option to trade Russell starting Dec. 15, something the Warriors have rejected as a possibility. There’s a long time between now and then, and such a move would really open up a lot of questions. So let’s wait on that topic and see how things develop. Short of that, though, the Warriors’ roster is what it is, and they have to hope to get healthy and stay healthy. The Warriors have three centers — Willie Cauley-Stein, Kevon Looney and Alen Smailagic — out with significant injuries and are scrambling to fill minutes in the frontcourt.
Connor Letourneau: Sign of progress: Cauley-Stein, Burks and Smailagic are all getting in on-court work after practice.
Connor Letourneau: Jordan Poole (ankle) will play tomorrow vs. Minnesota. Kevon Looney (hamstring) and Alen Smailagic (ankle) wonโt.
Connor Letourneau: Alen Smailagic (ankle) will miss Saturdayโs preseason opener vs. the Lakers.
Connor Letourneau: Looney tweaked his hamstring and missed the last part of practice, and Smailagic rolled his ankle. Warriors will have an update later this afternoon.
Anthony Slater: Steve Kerr: “Yeah, Kevon Looney probably starts (at center).” With WCS out, Alen Smailagic and Omari Spellman really the only other early season options. Kerr: “I had big plans for Looney anyway.”
Heโs still learning new terms. โVirginโ was a word introduced to him by DeMarcus Cousins a few months ago. The lumbering veteran big man went down to Santa Cruz on a rehab assignment last season and relentlessly teased the eager kid in trash-talk sessions. Smailagic recounts Cousins repeatedly yelling, โDonโt play with us, youโre probably a virgin!โ Smailagic would shoot back, โIโll show you,โ perhaps not completely understanding the context of the insult. โIt was great,โ Smailagic said of his time trying to prove himself to Cousins.
Once the roster is finalized, Golden State will project to have $138.5M in salary, $430K below the tax apron. The salary factors in the new contract of Kevon Looney, second round picks- Eric Paschall and Alen Smailagic, along with three minimum free agent contracts.
Anthony Slater: Full Warriors youth movement. Only one guy over 30, seven of their current 11 under 25. Steph Curry 31 Draymond Green 29 Klay Thompson 28 Alfonzo McKinnie 26 Damian Jones 24 D’Angelo Russell 23 Kevon Looney 23 Jacob Evans 22 Eric Paschall 22 Jordan Poole 20 Alen Smailagic 18
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