2019 NBA Draft: Grading the Golden State Warriors second-round picks
By Justin Fried
After a few draft day trades, the Golden State Warriors ended up making two selections in second-round of the 2019 NBA Draft. Here are our initial grades for the two picks.
The Golden State Warriors entered Thursday night’s 2019 NBA Draft with two philosophies in mind. Find immediate plug-and-play bench depth and plan for long-term potential success.
After their selection of Michigan guard Jordan Poole in the first round, it’s safe to say that they accomplished their two goals with their two second-rounders.
The Warriors are no strangers to finding second-round gems with the most obvious, recent case being their 35th overall pick in 2012 — that being Draymond Green, of course. But even back in 2005, the Warriors were finding steals in the second round when they selected future backcourt standout Monta Ellis 40th overall.
Golden State’s goal was to improve their bench depth for next season and into the future after their depth failed them in this year’s NBA Finals. And with Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant set to hit free agency nursing serious injuries, depth adding depth has never been more important.
Let’s take a look at how each of the Warriors’ second-round picks grades out, at least initially.
Round 2, Pick 39 — Alen Smailagic (Santa Cruz Warriors)
If there was ever such a thing as a lock in the second round, this would have been it. The talk around the league was that the Warriors were extremely high on Serbian big man Alen Smailagic and that they would do everything possible to secure him in this year’s draft.
We even mocked him to the Warriors in our final mock draft — cheap plug.
Well, they landed their guy.
It took a trade up to pick No. 39, but Golden State was able to draft Smailagic and make him a member of the Warriors. Or makes sure he remained a member of the Warriors.
Smailagic spent last season playing with the Santa Cruz Warriors — Golden State’s G-League affiliate — and he clearly impressed the Warriors during his short stay. In fact, they were interested in the teenage project before he ever even played with Santa Cruz.
The Warriors actually traded for his rights in the 2018 G-League draft to make sure that no other team could call him up during the season. This was a pretty clever move from Golden State’s front office as they did everything they could to assure no other team could snag him.
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Smailagic still has plenty of room to grow but the Warriors love his athletic potential down the line. He will likely spend another year with Santa Cruz before hopefully factoring into the Warriors rotation down the line.
Was the trade up entirely necessary? Maybe not. But they got the guy they wanted and it’s hard to argue with the upside.
Final Grade: C+
Round 2, Pick 41 — Eric Paschall (Villanova)
If the Warriors drafted Smailagic with projection and potential in mind, they had the opposite thought when they selected Villanova’s Eric Paschall. And I mean that in the best way possible.
Simply put, Golden State will likely expect Paschall to contribute off the bench right away — and he might just be equipped with the skill set to do so.
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Paschall is an all-around player who really doesn’t shine in any one aspect, but is pretty good at everything. He’s slightly undersized for a big man — he’s listed at 6-foot-9 but looks shorter on tape — but coaches have praised his work ethic and determination to improve.
So we’re dealing with a versatile, undersized big man who is well-rounded and has an exceptional work ethic. There’s a reason that his coaches have referred to him as “mini-Draymond” in the past.
Paschall is obviously not on Green’s level just yet as his defense is adequate but nowhere near the level of his veteran counterpart. But given his work ethic and constant improvement he’s shown over his career, it wouldn’t be smart to count him out.
Next. Golden State Warriors: Grading the first-round selection of Jordan Poole. dark
This is a culture fit, a depth addition, and pick for the future all in one. Not bad for the 41st overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.