Alen

Smailagic

The 39th pick of the 2019 Draft was never able to break through on the roster, making 29 appearances across two seasons. He had two more non-guaranteed seasons remaining on his deal, but the Warriors aren’t going to waste any more time after getting some fresh talent in the draft.

These guys have been out for almost a week, so they may have some minutes restrictions, but guys like Alen Smailagic and Juan Toscano-Anderson could be headed for DNP-CDs tonight. Feel free to activate Wiseman in season-long settings.

This is great news for the Warriors, as Alen Smailagic struggled mightily in his first NBA start Saturday night. Looney will go back into the starting lineup Tuesday night, while Smailagic will in all likelihood pick up a DNP-CD.

With Kevon Looney (health and safety protocols) ruled out, Smailagic was tabbed to make his third appearance of the season (and first career start). While he got off to a good start, making his first shot attempt, it all went downhill from there for the second-year forward. Smailagic was whistled for three fouls in the first five minutes of the game, and he played just three minutes in the third before heading to the bench with five fouls. The absences of Looney, James Wiseman and Eric Paschall may open the door for Smailagic to make another start, but he isn’t worth picking up regardless of league format. Golden State plays three games next week, starting with Tuesday’s matchup with the 76ers.

Looney is out due to health and safety protocols and, with James Wiseman out for the same reason, the Warriors are effectively scraping the bottom of the barrel here. Smailagic shouldn’t lack for minutes, but there’s little reason to trust him regardless of league format. Expect to see Draymond Green log a few minutes at the five in smaller lineups, as well.

Smailagic, who missed time with a knee injury before joining the Santa Cruz Warriors in the G-League bubble, wasn’t a rotation player when healthy. There’s no need for fantasy managers to grab him off of the waiver wire.

The Warriors took a big hit to their frontcourt when Marquese Chriss went down for the season with a fractured fibula, and fortunately for them, Smailagic won’t be out for too long. Still, he shouldn’t be rostered in fantasy leagues at this point.

The silver lining is that Smailagic, who will have the surgery “in the near future,” may only need a few weeks to recover. Marquese Chriss’ season is likely over due to ankle/leg surgery and Golden State can ill afford more losses to their frontcourt, but Smailagic’s absence shouldn’t impact any fantasy rosters.

We don’t know when he’ll make his regular-season debut, but we do know that he has no business being rostered in almost any setting.

Smailagic will miss a second straight regular season game due to the knee issue, which also sidelined him during the preseason. Even when healthy, he isn’t a worthwhile option in any fantasy format. Leave Smailagic on the waiver wire.