Brandin Podziemski’s rough night in the Warriors’ preseason opener didn’t change the bigger picture around his future in Golden State. Even after he managed just seven points on 2-of-10 shooting in Sunday’s 104-101 loss to the Clippers in Hawaii, NBA insider Marc Stein reported that Podziemski and the Warriors are working toward a new deal before the October 19 deadline.
That timeline matters because Golden State already locked up Stephen Curry on a two-year, $116 million extension, a move that still leaves the team theoretically able to chase max cap space next offseason. With that in mind, there has been some uncertainty about how aggressive the Warriors would be in extending Podziemski if it cuts into that flexibility.
Still, the sense around the situation is that both sides want something done. As Stein put it, "Word relayed toThe Stein Line this week is that both sides want to get a deal done ... but that is obviously dependent on beating the ticking clock," Stein reported.
The exact price tag remains the big question. A Podziemski extension would be expected to come in well above the four-year, $60 million deal Pelle Larsson got from the Heat, but it would also land far below Keyonte George’s five-year, $157.5 million contract in Utah.
Sunday wasn’t the kind of showcase Podziemski or Golden State wanted. The fourth-year guard looked out of sync from the start, missing shots and even going 0-for-2 from the free-throw line as the Warriors struggled to generate offense in the first half. Golden State put up just 43 points before the break.
Podziemski should get plenty of chances to steady himself. The Warriors still have five more preseason games on the schedule, beginning with a back-to-back against the Lakers and Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
For now, he appears to have the inside track on the starting shooting guard job over De’Anthony Melton, and that role could end up shaping how the Warriors view an extension for the former 19th overall pick.
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Warriors Face A Telling Brandin Podziemski Decision Amid Bigger Questions
The Warriors have more than one roster matter hanging in the balance, but Brandin Podziemski has become a telling one. Marc Stein reported that Golden State is working toward a contract agreement with the young guard, a move that would keep a promising piece in place as the franchise keeps trying to sort out a roster that still feels uneven around its core.
It is a familiar kind of Warriors crossroads: protect the future while managing the present. With concerns already lingering around the health of Draymond Green, Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Kristaps Porzingis, the urgency goes beyond one negotiation, even if Podziemski's situation may resolve soon. How Golden State handles that conversation will say plenty about where the front office thinks this team is headed. [Read more 🡒]