The Golden State Warriors have to do everything to keep All-Star guard Stephen Curry ‘s championship window open.
One of the ways to make that happen is to pull the trigger on Brandin Podziemski, especially after the young star was named as one of the top trade pieces in the NBA.
Despite their struggles last season, Podziemski said the Warriors are close to returning to a dominant stretch. The 21-year-old guard was a bright spot for the Warriors as he showed impressive growth during his first year in the NBA.
The Warriors faced adversity last season, including Draymond Green’s suspension , Chris Paul’s injury, and Klay Thompson’s shooting slump. However, the emergence of young talent like Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, and Moses Moody has given the team hope for the future.
With Curry still playing at an elite level, the Warriors are under pressure to maximize his remaining prime years. Curry has urged the front office to address the team’s needs and put him in the best position to win another championship.
Podziemski’s confidence in the team’s ability to blend veteran leadership with young talent suggests the Warriors may be poised for a resurgence in the coming season.
While the incoming sophomore is a bright spot for the Dubs, there’s an argument to be made for using him to make the team better. In an article by Dan Favale for Bleacher Report, Golden State has gotten a reason to cash in on the young guard.
“Investing in Podziemski’s All-Star ceiling requires a belief in his jumper. He drilled 38.5 percent of his triples, including a 56.5 percent clip on step-back treys (13-of-23). But his volume on self-created shots is modest at best—over 62 percent of his made buckets came off assists—and he converted just 63.3 percent of his opportunities at the foul line.
“Skeptics will be inclined to put him lower, most certainly below Jaime Jaquez Jr. That’s understandable. But going on 22, I’m buying his potential as a from-scratch table-setter and shot-maker. Jaquez will have more defensive malleability. Podziemski should induce more offensive chaos.
“Bake in good size for a combo guard (6’5″) and the three years remaining on his rookie-scale contract, and it’s no wonder why the Utah Jazz are insisting on Podz’s inclusion in a Lauri Markkanen trade,” Favale wrote.
Podziemski’s rookie contract, coupled along with his production on the court, are more than enough to get the Dubs a key player that can keep their championship window open. Rather than wait for him to enter his prime, Golden State can act now and get the most value out of the guard right away.
It remains to be seen whether the Warriors will move fast or keep Podziemski. In any case, a lot of eyes will be on the young star to see what he’ll do in the Bay, especially after All-Star wing Klay Thompson is now playing for the Dallas Mavericks.
