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Warriors fans may want to keep a close eye on the Timberwolves this season.
Although Golden State could make the playoffs, it doesn’t think it can compete for a title without Klay Thompson. The Warriors’ chances of lifting a Larry O’Brien trophy as early as 2022 would improve if Golden State can recruit a potential face of the franchise with the Minnesota pick in the top three proteges of 2021 it acquired in the Andrew deal. Wiggins.
In this week’s Warriors mail folder, I detail why the Warriors should seriously consider sticking with that draft asset. Here’s that answer, as well as several others that explain how the future could unfold for Golden State:
@khoee: What are the chances of the Warriors passing from (Alen) Smailagic?
This season? Minimum. Everyone I have spoken to in the Warriors organization has insisted that they will give Smailagic another full season to prove he deserves a long-term investment.
That being said, the timing of your right meniscus tear couldn’t be worse. Smailagic doesn’t need to break out of Golden State’s regular rotation this season to get a longer look from the front office, but he does need to show significant progress. That will be difficult now. After undergoing surgery, Smailagic is expected to have several weeks of rehab before returning to practice and games.
With the Warriors’ G League affiliate expected to start a 12-15 game season in an Orlando bubble on Feb. 8, Smailagic could miss out on much-needed playing time with Santa Cruz. The odds of him getting meaningful minutes with Golden State were already slim, and now they likely don’t exist.
If this ends up being a lost season for Smailagic, it will be interesting to see what the Warriors do with him. Do they sympathize with his less-than-ideal circumstances and bring him back for 2021-22 to give him one more chance to show that he can be a useful piece in the future? Or do they go ahead and give someone more willing to contribute their place on the list?
Your guest is as good as mine. The Warriors were quite excited about Smailagic when they took him 39th overall in the 2019 draft, and it only helps their chances of sticking with the fact that Kent Lacob, son of majority owner Joe Lacob, was the one who discovered him in Serbia.
However, the NBA can be a relentless business. Smailagic’s bad luck doesn’t change the fact that the Warriors want to make the most of all of their spots on the roster.