Brandin Podziemski has his future in place, and the Warriors no longer have to sweat the clock. The guard agreed to a five-year, $110 million rookie-scale extension, according to Shams Charania, locking in a fully guaranteed deal that also includes a mutual option in the fifth season and a trade kicker.
For Golden State, the timing matters as much as the money. The agreement clears up any lingering uncertainty ahead of the Oct. 19 extension deadline and prevents Podziemski from heading toward restricted free agency next summer. It also rewards a player who gave the Warriors a steady, durable season, averaging 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists while appearing in all 82 games and leading the team in minutes played.
Across the league, Egor Demin is already trying to define his role with a simple message: do whatever helps the Nets win. Demin said he wants to contribute in any way he can, whether that means running the offense or working away from the ball.
“I’m a winner, so I want to win as much as I can,” Demin said, via Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “If that means for me to have 25 assists and five points, or whatever that means for me, I want to win first.”
He even used LeBron James as a model for the kind of flexibility he wants to bring.
“You look at LeBron, he can play from 1-through-5,” Demin said.
Nets coach Jordi Fernández has seen enough already to notice the progress.
“You just can see how much he’s improved already from last year,” Fernández said. “His voice is growing, so it’s very important.”
In Cleveland, Peyton Watson gave the Cavaliers an early look at why they were so eager to bring him in. In the preseason opener against Boston, Watson put up seven points, four rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 17 first-half minutes.
Kenny Atkinson made it clear the Cavs do not view Watson as a player who should be parked on the wing and left there. Atkinson said he wants to see him operating in the short roll, attacking in transition, cutting, crashing the offensive glass and helping on the boards.
“He’s a dynamic player,” Atkinson said. “I want to see him in the short roll. I want to see him not just floating on the perimeter.”
Atkinson added, “He’s an active offensive player,” Atkinson said. “He’s not just a spot-up guy.”
That kind of versatility is a big reason Watson has already turned heads in Cleveland.
In Other News...
Nets Fans Are Still Waiting For The First Real Mikel Brown Jr. Look
Mikel Brown Jr. arrived in Brooklyn with the kind of profile that usually gets a fan base dreaming quickly. The No. 6 pick has already drawn praise inside the organization for his leadership and the way he plays, and the Nets see him as a point guard who can help organize the offense with both scoring and passing. He has also been grinding through a demanding daily routine as he works to add the strength needed for NBA contact, a reminder that even top picks often need time before the league fully reveals them.
For now, though, Nets fans are still waiting for their first real look at him in game action. Brown Jr. has been recovering from a rolled ankle, and his participation in the upcoming preseason game is uncertain, which leaves his debut on hold a little longer than anyone around the team probably hoped. The anticipation is part of the process with a young guard like this, but Brooklyn would like to start seeing the shape of what it drafted, especially with preseason opportunities beginning to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Egor Demin Is Forcing A Real Nets Rotation Conversation
Egor Demin has spent Nets training camp and the early preseason making himself part of the conversation, and that alone is a meaningful step after an uneven rookie season. The young guard has shown more comfort, more versatility and a better feel for how Brooklyn wants to play, enough for the coaching staff to note real progress as he works to carve out a larger role.
For a team still sorting out its rotation, Demins growth adds another layer to the decisions ahead. Brooklyn is experimenting with different lineup combinations in the preseason as it looks for ways to maximize spacing and flexibility, and that kind of tinkering can open doors for players who keep stacking good days. The question now is whether Demins momentum holds once the games start to count and the Nets have to settle on who fits where. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Rebuild Still Hinges On One Risk Fans Will Feel Early
The Nets head into the 2026-27 season with a roster that looks very much like a rebuilding team still learning on the fly, blending a handful of established names with a wave of players just getting their NBA footing. Julius Randle, Keon Ellis and Mo Wagner give Brooklyn some needed ballast, but the bigger story is the sheer amount of inexperience surrounding them, which can speed up the future just as easily as it can expose the rough edges of it.
Brooklyns front office has clearly leaned into the long view, and the early months of the season figure to show how much patience that approach will require. With so many first- and second-year players on the roster, the Nets are banking on development to outweigh the usual growing pains, but the balance between progress and pain is exactly what will make this group worth watching from the start. [Read more 🡒]