Warriors tell Brandin Podziemski he won’t be traded amid offseason rumors: ‘You are a priority here’

The Golden State Warriors have spent the 2024 offseason trying to trade for a superstar, but no matter how serious those talks got, they drew a line in the sand they never crossed. Whether it was for Paul George or Lauri Markkanen, general manager Mike Dunleavy was adamant that Brandin Podziemski was off-limits.

“He told me, ‘You have nothing to worry about. You’re a priority here,’” Podziemski told Anthony Slater of The Athletic. “I appreciate it, being a rookie and in my second year, to hear that from such a prestigious organization. It feels good. I’m wanted somewhere. So, I appreciate them.”

Podziemski was an All-Rookie choice last season. He averaged 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game in his debut campaign as a Warrior and even managed to oust Klay Thompson for a while as Golden State’s starting shooting guard. While their playing styles differ, Thompson is actually an apt comparison here for one important reason.

In 2015, the Warriors were trying to trade then-Minnesota Timberwolves star Kevin Love. Thompson was the biggest hurdle in those negotiations. Having not yet become an All-Star, critics across the league asked the Warriors to include him and secure a worthy co-star for Stephen Curry to move on. The Warriors did not give up. Thompson won four championships for the Warriors.

Obviously Podziemski has a long way to go before he achieves such status in the Bay Area, but there are high expectations for him within the organization. Warriors owner Joe Lacob has said he thinks the Warriors have a “future All-Star” in Podziemski, and with Thompson now playing for the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State will give him a much bigger role in his second season. Stylistically, Podziemski will have to emulate a bit more now that Thompson is gone. He told Slater that the Warriors want him to shoot more 3-pointers next season and defend the best opposing guards, just as Thompson did for so long.

The last time the Warriors refused to trade a young shooting guard for an instant star, it worked out pretty well for them. It’s going to be even tougher this time around as Curry and Draymond Green are nearing the end of their great careers, but Golden State has spent years looking for players who can not only help them win with their current core but be a key part of their next one. In Podziemski, they think they’ve found such a young player.