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Warriors trade for picks, draft Alen Smailagic and Eric Paschall

Golden State got their G League product.

NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament-Second Round- Villanova vs Purdue David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

The Golden State Warriors got who they were looking for. They traded with the New Orleans Pelicans for the 39th pick in the draft, and used it to select Alen Smailagic.

Smailagic has been on the Warriors radar for quite a long time. An 18-year old sharpshooting forward from Serbia, he spent last year playing for the Santa Cruz Warriors in the G League.

Just 17 years old at the time, Smailagic was not allowed to enter the 2018 Draft. The Warriors realized how good he was, and hid him from showcases, in the hopes that he’d be available for them on draft day. He was.

Smailagic didn’t have great numbers in the G League - 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, on 24.4% shooting from deep - but showed a lot of promise.

The Warriors gave up two future second-round picks to acquire Smailagic.

Two picks later, the Warriors drafted power forward Eric Paschall with the No. 41 pick that they acquired earlier in the week.

Paschall spent four years in college - his rookie year at Fordham, and then three seasons at Villanova. As a senior he averaged 16.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.

Welcome to the Warriors, Smailagic and Paschall!

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