Brandin Podziemski did not hide how much the Warriors’ new deal means to him.
After Golden State’s preseason game on Saturday, the young guard spoke plainly about the five-year, $110 million contract extension that keeps him in the mix long term.
“I'm grateful for this organization taking a leap with faith in me and wanting me here for the future,” Podziemski said.
That extension came just ahead of the season and gives the Warriors another important piece to lock in around Steph Curry. ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported that Curry and Golden State had already reached agreement on a two-year, $116 million extension, a deal that ties the franchise star to the only organization he has ever known through his 20th NBA season. The contract includes a player option in the final season, 2028-29.
Podziemski’s deal carries its own details. Slater reported that the agreement is fully guaranteed and includes a mutual option in the final season, 2031-32, along with a trade kicker. That mutual option gives either side the chance to opt in, not opt out, and leaves room for extension talks to reopen that offseason.
For Golden State, the extension also avoids restricted free agency next summer for the starting guard.
Podziemski has established himself as a useful fit alongside Curry during his first few years in the league, and the Warriors are counting on that growth to continue. The team still enters the season with questions about whether it can get back to the playoffs, but Podziemski now has no doubt where he stands.
With his new contract in hand, he knows Golden State is home.
In Other News...
Warriors Preseason Game Sparked A Scary Kings Injury Concern
A tense moment in a preseason game against the Warriors turned into a worrying scene for Sacramento when Maxime Raynaud went down with a right patellar subluxation and had to leave the court in a wheelchair. For a Kings team trying to get through exhibition play without unnecessary drama, the sight of a young player being helped off immediately cast a shadow over the night.
The encouraging part for Sacramento is that the initial fear of a major knee injury has eased, and the focus now shifts to what comes next for Raynaud as the team continues to monitor him. Support has already come from teammates, with Ben Simmons and Darius Acuff Jr. among those rallying around him, but the bigger question for the Kings is how soon they can get a clearer read on his recovery and what it means for his preseason momentum. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Roster Decision Is Raising Tough Questions About What They Value
The Warriors have started trimming their roster, and one of the more telling moves was waiving Miles Kelly even after he put together a strong preseason. Kelly had flashed enough to make the decision at least a little surprising, but the expectation now is that he will land with the Santa Cruz G League team, keeping him in the organization while the big club sorts through its final roster math.
Malevy Leons is the other name drawing attention, since Golden State is leaning toward keeping the depth forward even though he has not seen much meaningful playing time. Dalen Terry is also likely to be waived soon as the team continues to balance roster spots and contract considerations, a reminder that these end-of-camp decisions can say as much about long-term priorities as they do about short-term form. [Read more 🡒]
Draymond Green Already Doubts The Pistons New Enforcer Role
Draymond Green is already sizing up the Pistons new identity around John Collins, and he did not exactly sound convinced the transition from Isaiah Stewart will be seamless. Collins signed a three-year deal in Detroit after Stewart was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, and the conversation around the role has plenty of history behind it, given the physical edge Stewart brought and the track record of Greens own heated run-ins with Stewart and Dillon Brooks.
Green acknowledged Collins for trying to bring that same edge, but he also made it clear the job is bigger than showing up with a few hard fouls or a short burst of swagger. The question in Detroit is whether Collins can sustain that presence in a way the Pistons can count on every night, because in Greens view, that sort of reputation is earned by staying consistent, not by visiting it occasionally. [Read more 🡒]