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 it’d 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.