SANTA CRUZ — Carrying precious cargo, Warriors player development coach Seth Cooper weaved through traffic while rookie center Alen Smailagic sat shotgun and pulled up the Dallas Mavericks roster on his phone. The two went through the list as Cooper recited the scouting report from memory.
Smailagic, the 19-year-old developmental project, was in Stockton preparing for a G League game when, at 3:50 p.m., Cooper got a call from the Warriors. With Omari Spellman sick and Eric Paschall out with a right hip contusion, Golden State needed Smailagic in San Francisco by 5:30 p.m. for Saturday’s 6:30 tip against the Mavericks.