The Golden State Warriors view Brandin Podziemski as an integral part of both their immediate present and long-term future, and this is no secret. Owner Joe Lacob stated in a late July appearance on the Tim Kawakami Show that “everyone” with the Dubs believes Podziemski has what it takes to be an NBA All-Star.
“I think Podz has the potential to be an All-Star in this league, if you talk about him specifically, as I stated at the Summer League,” Lacob stated. And I firmly think that. And everyone else in our company does, too.
The Utah Jazz appear to concur. With the de facto deadline for his offseason trade to the Warriors quickly approaching, Golden State’s insistence on keeping Podziemski around is apparently the largest roadblock to Lauri Markkanen joining the Bay.
According to the most recent information, Utah would prefer to trade Markkanen for the all-around guard in addition to Markkanen.
It looks like Mike Dunleavy and the Warriors front office have a few days left until any trade talks involving Markkanen are discontinued in the run-up to the trade deadline on February 6. If the Finnish player signs a new contract, he will be eligible for a contract extension starting on August 6 and cannot be traded until the trade deadline.
If not, as the Jazz attempt to tank, Danny Ainge will undoubtedly open up the bidding league-wide for Markkanen and other key young players, meaning it will be open season in Salt Lake City come 2024–2025.
Is the possibility of missing out on Markkanen entirely in a trade for Podziemski really worth it? Before next Tuesday, Golden State’s top executives will undoubtedly be asking themselves that question and considering how the response would affect Stephen Curry.
Warriors’ future isn’t worth Brandin Podziemski, and Stephen Curry lost out on Lauri Markkanen
In the fourth quarter at Thomas & Mack Center, Chicago Bulls forward Marcus Domask (22) is dribbled against by Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2).
Sylvanie, Stephen R.; USA TODAY Sports
Before Curry, then 38, becomes eligible for a new deal at the end of the 2025–2026 season, Golden State needs to settle on its main objective over the course of the next two seasons.
The Dubs would make a significant win-now move if they traded Markkanen for Podziemski and several first-round selections to Utah. Curry and Draymond Green would then have access to a spectacular seven-foot player who is practically created to maximize and reduce their late-stage strengths and shortcomings.
Holding fast to Podziemski past August 6 in the event that Markkanen signs an extension wouldn’t completely ruin Golden State’s chances of obtaining Markkanen.
Markkanen would be available for trade at the deadline, but will the Warriors, who have just had a season and a half to build the chemistry and continuity needed to win at the highest level, be able to contend at the top of a loaded Western Conference come playoff time?
Similar doubts are raised by Golden State’s apparent assessment of Podziemski’s ceiling. Even though he was undetectable in his freshman year at Illinois, he transferred to Santa Clara and, just two years later, was selected to the First Team All-Rookie. He is still only 21 years old.
Podziemski, who is about to enter his second NBA season, already projects as a player who can help his team win against elite opposition. He will only grow better from here.
However, each person’s development always has its own beginnings and ends. Podziemski’s physical limitations indicate that his arrow will not endure much longer, even though it has been pointing straight up since he left Illinois.
With his exceptional basketball IQ and quick thinking, Podziemski is able to anticipate opponents and teammates on both sides of the court many steps ahead. In addition to being a skilled distributor and dribbler with excellent footwork and angle awareness, he is a proven 3-point shooter whose volume will undoubtedly rise in the future.
If Podziemski hadn’t been 6-foot-5, had short arms, no flexibility, and lagged all-around explosiveness—a lackluster physical profile that might significantly reduce his peak—just those current attributes would have made him almost a superstar.
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