Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob reportedly told Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith that he would not trade guard Brandin Podziemski during the Lauri Markkanen rumors this offseason.
“The Warriors fielded several medium- to high-value draft pick offers for Podziemski in June, team sources confirmed,” The Athletic’s Anthony Slater wrote. “The Warriors, however, declined to bite. Weeks later, Podziemski’s trade value became a hotter topic when it became clear that the Utah Jazz, if they were to even entertain moving Lauri Markkanen, would need Podziemski as part of the return package.
“That’s around the same time Podziemski ran into Warriors owner Joe Lacob. They both were at a Las Vegas Aces game during summer league and crossed paths at halftime. Lacob, according to Podziemski, told him he’d seen Jazz owner Ryan Smith at dinner the night before and let it be known Podziemski was protected.
“He told me, ‘You don’t have anything to worry about. You’re a priority here,’ Podziemski said. I appreciate that, being a rookie and going into my second year, hearing that from such a prestigious organization. It feels good. I’m wanted somewhere. So, I appreciate them.”
Markkanen ended up signing an extension with the Jazz in early August, and he is not eligible to be traded until next offseason. With the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 6 in the 2024-25 season, Markkanen signed his extension after Aug, 6, meaning he can’t be moved for six months – or prior to the trade deadline.
For the Warriors, making sure they kept Podziemski, a first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, shows just how much they believe in the young guard.
Last season, Podziemski appeared in 74 games and made 28 starts for Golden State. He averaged 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 45.4 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from 3-point range.
With star Klay Thompson leaving the Warriors in a sign-and-trade deal with the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, Podziemski should have an even bigger role in Golden State’s rotation in the 2024-25 season.
Also, with Thompson gone, the Warriors want Podziemski to start taking more shots from beyond the arc after he averaged just 3.2 attempts per game last season.
“I think I can get to that amount,” Podziemski said of the Warriors wanting him to take around eight to 10 shots from 3 per game. “The reason they said that is because I’d be watching film last season after every game, and it’s always on there: Missed 3-point opportunity that I didn’t take. There were a good two to four each game that I passed up. If you look at that, it’s a good five to seven per game I could’ve got up.
“Now with Klay being gone, Chris (Paul) being gone, someone is going to have to handle the ball a little bit more. I think I’m more than capable of doing that. Given that, I think it leads me to have more 3s.”
Even though two-time league MVP Stephen Curry is still with the Warriors, it appears the franchise is focused on making sure it has a solid foundation for the future with Podziemski.
If the young guard can have a big 2024-25 season, it’s likely he’ll be viewed as an untouchable player in any trade negotiations for Golden State next offseason.
