By his personal admission, a 22-year-old i used to be in a position to play final season with out many {dollars} dancing in his head. There was sufficient to fret about, in any case, for a lefty with a hexagonal recreation that was wanted to suit quite a lot of spherical holes for the s. And so he took only a couple seconds to assume in April, when requested if an impending contract 12 months had been on his thoughts.
"It's fairly simple to simply put it by the wayside," Podziemski mentioned then, at his end-of-year presser. "Simply, when you consider it coming into the 12 months – if you happen to do in any respect – you notice the following summer time is so distant and there's a lot in between that has to go on, that if you happen to dwell and die by that each recreation, it goes like this."
He wiggled his hand on the podium, in a wave movement.
That subsequent summer time, although, has now drawn to a detailed, and a month stays earlier than the now-23-year-old Podziemski could also be compelled to spend his fourth NBA season taking part in for a brand new contract. The deadline for Podziemski to signal a rookie-scale extension with Golden State stands at Oct. 19, two days earlier than the Warriors tip off the 2026-27 season in opposition to the Lakers in Los Angeles.
In April, Podziemski mentioned e. And in early August, Warriors basic supervisor y mentioned the franchise would like to get a deal accomplished "before later," indicating Podziemski's extension was a precedence.
Such a deal could also be difficult to navigate, in a present NBA panorama the place rookie-scale extensions for starting-caliber guards proceed to compound in worth. And the Warriors paying Podziemski now, at latest market charge, would point out a transparent funding within the assured guard as a foundational piece for the longer term past y.
Wouldn’t it be higher flexibility for Golden State, although – an choice right here Dunleavy introduced up in August – to easily watch for Podziemski to hit restricted free company?
"Until it's a team-friendly deal, completely," one outstanding NBA agent instructed the Chronicle Tuesday, talking on situation of anonymity. "Like, why give him greater than $20 million a 12 months?"
Therein lies the pure challenge for Golden State, as contending groups within the Western Convention have handed out rookie-scale extensions price over $20 million to younger, starting-caliber guards for years. Hint this as far again 2017 with Gary Harris, who signed a four-year, $84 million extension with Denver after averaging 14.9 factors a recreation the season prior; or a 12 months in the past with Christian Braun, who signed a five-year, $125 million extension with the Nuggets after averaging 15.4 a recreation.
The Warriors already must re-tool their books to squeeze in a contender round Stephen Curry, n. And in an period the place staff spending is almost hard-capped by the second apron, handing a big extension to a job participant with out true star-level upside can kneecap a roster.
Look, once more, at Denver, the place the Nuggets are going through an rising heap of criticism for not additional re-tooling their roster across the distinctive abilities of Nikola Jokic – as a result of the Braun deal, partially, has restricted their capability to spend.
"I don't know the way rather more upside there’s," one other NBA agent instructed the Chronicle, talking on Podziemski. "If he can get Golden State to be anyplace close to $20 (million) a 12 months, I believe he ought to take it."
In all probability, the Warriors' inside opinion of Podziemski is greater than league sentiment, because the younger lefty n. He admitted in April that he introduced "self-inflicted" criticism after saying final October he wished to be higher than Curry.
The chatter masks a easy actuality: Podziemski has grown into a fairly good basketball participant.
"We actually worth Brandin," Dunleavy mentioned in August. "He's a participant that, for all of the issues he does properly – most significantly, he impacts profitable. When he's on the courtroom, we're a greater staff."
Amid harm absences for Curry and r, Podziemski attacked the rim and drew contact at a better charge within the final two months of the 2025-26 season, resulting in a mini-breakout in March and April: 18.1 factors a recreation on 47.5% capturing from the sphere. If Golden State feels he's able to such a leap throughout his fourth season, a long-term deal would look clear on their books.
If not, they may merely sit on their palms, hand Podziemski a one-year qualifying provide price $8.7 million (c) subsequent summer time, and gamble his worth received't explode previous a team-friendly deal in restricted free company.
Both manner, the approaching month will reveal loads round Golden State's inside perception in Podziemski's upside.
"I need to be right here and keep right here," he mentioned in April, "for the long run."
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This text initially revealed at e.
