The Warriors have a real backcourt call to make when training camp opens: Brandin Podziemski or De'Anthony Melton next to Stephen Curry.
On paper, Melton looks like the cleaner answer right now. Golden State brought him back this offseason instead of going after other options such as Anfernee Simons, and the fit is obvious because of what he can do defensively beside Curry. If he shakes off the inconsistency that showed up late last season, Melton has a clear path to being a reliable starter on a game-to-game basis.
That said, Podziemski’s situation is where this gets interesting. The Warriors aren’t going to make this decision based on his upcoming extension talks; they’ll go with whatever helps the team most.
But from the outside, the role he gets matters plenty. If Podziemski wants to maximize the value of his next contract, he needs to keep building on the production he showed late last season, when injuries and a depleted rotation pushed him into a bigger role.
A bench assignment would make that harder.
At the same time, that kind of role could help him in a different way. Podziemski still has to prove he can be a steady, confident scorer before Golden State is ready to put a long-term price tag on him. Starting might sound like the better badge, but coming off the bench could actually be the cleaner route to showing that growth.
Podziemski is going to be a polarizing figure on this roster no matter what. He’s helped create that perception himself with the way he’s talked about being a cornerstone going forward, but he also backed up part of that confidence with what he did late last season.
Once he entered the starting lineup in late February, he averaged 17.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting 38% from beyond the arc. That was a level of production the Warriors hadn’t really seen from him before.
He wasn’t just active with the ball - he was shooting it with confidence and getting downhill more often.
It looked like a real shift from what Golden State had gotten from him in stretches during the 2024-25 season.
Still, there’s a ceiling to what he projects as long term. Podziemski looks more like a starting combo guard than a star scorer or a true primary option. Because of that, paying him more than $20 million annually on his next deal would be a tough fit for Golden State, especially with the post-Curry future already looming.
Starting from day one could, in theory, help him challenge that idea. But there’s also risk there. If he’s thrust into a high-pressure role early, with fewer touches next to Curry and the rest of the starters, some of the flaws in his game could show up again.
Coming off the bench might actually give him more room to work. He could handle a fuller load of possessions, share the floor at times with Curry and at other times with the Warriors’ current second point guard Brandon Williams, and get the kind of spacing that helps him operate as a scorer with Gui Santos and Al Horford in the mix.
And the bench label wouldn’t necessarily mean a lighter workload. Podziemski averaged 26.3 minutes in the 39 games he came off the bench last season.
For Golden State, the ideal setup may be the one that keeps Podziemski’s role focused. If Melton can hold down the starting spot and absorb a moderate workload, the Warriors might end up putting Podziemski in the best possible position to build on the momentum he finished with last season.
In Other News...
Warriors Trade Buzz Around Karl-Anthony Towns Comes With One Awkward Catch
Karl-Anthony Towns has already emerged as one of the bigger names to watch as the Knicks weigh their next move, and the Warriors are said to be among the teams paying close attention. Towns holds a $61 million player option and could choose free agency next summer, which gives New York a reason to think about acting before the situation gets even more complicated. From Golden States side, the appeal is obvious: Towns is a high-end talent who could reshape the frontcourt picture if the right deal materializes.
The catch is in the mechanics, because any serious pursuit would have to navigate a tricky trade market while Towns is still seeking a max extension from the Knicks. Jimmy Butlers expiring contract and draft capital would likely be part of the framework, even as he works back from a torn ACL and is expected to return early next year. There is also a little basketball irony baked into the whole thing, given the shared history involved, which only makes the possibility feel even more layered as the offseason conversation develops. [Read more 🡒]
Buddy Hield Just Got An Unexpected Opening With The Hornets
The Hornets preseason injury list already has a ripple effect for Buddy Hield, who was traded to Charlotte and suddenly finds a clearer path to minutes. With LaMelo Ball dealt away and the roster thinning further, the teams need for perimeter shooting becomes even more obvious, which is where Hield can still make his case despite a recent stretch that has fallen short of his career efficiency.
Charlotte said Kon Knueppel and Grant Williams will sit out all of preseason with hamstring injuries and will be re-evaluated in the first week of the regular season. Knueppels absence, in particular, opens the door a little wider for Hield to work into the rotation, giving the Hornets another proven outside threat while they sort through an early-season lineup that is already missing pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Camp Opens With One Huge Question Around Their Season Outlook
The Warriors open training camp in Oahu on Oct. 3 with the usual mix of familiarity and uncertainty that has come to define this stage of their season. Stephen Curry and Draymond Green are back in the fold, the roster has been mostly retained, and the front office sprinkled in veteran help with Brandon Williams and Georges Niang on minimum deals, while rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is expected to get a real chance to matter. Golden State will not have to wait long to see where it stands, either, with its first preseason game set for Oct. 4 against the Clippers in Hawaii.
The bigger question, though, is how much of this group will actually be available when camp gets rolling and how quickly the rotation can take shape before the NBA season opens Oct. 21. Curry is managing a knee issue, and there is no sense of urgency around his contract situation, which only adds to the feeling that the Warriors are entering camp with more to sort through than a typical contender. For a team still trying to balance its veteran core with a younger supporting cast, the first few days in Hawaii should reveal plenty about the shape of this season, even if the most important answers are still waiting to be found. [Read more 🡒]