The Golden State Warriors lost all-time shooter, future Hall-of-Famer, and beloved teammate Klay Thompson to the Dallas Mavericks in free agency. It wasn’t amicable either as negotiations never seemed close.
To help fill the void in talent and cap space, the Dubs signed three guys: defensive guard De’Anthony Melton, pass-first forward Kyle Anderson, and sharpshooter Buddy Hield. While all are good signings, none of it could be really deemed to move the needle.
Also, there’s still a significant need for firepower to help out Stephen Curry, who’s still amazing, but isn’t getting any younger at 36 years of age. Topping Golden State’s wishlist is Utah Jazz All-Star Lauri Markkanen, by far the hottest name in the trade market.
Of course, they would need to lose some of their young guys to acquire such talent, like Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and Brandin Podziemski. That’s where the issue comes in.
The Jazz, headed by proven trade swindler Danny Ainge, want a handful of picks and Podziemski, but the Warriors front office, alongside head coach Steve Kerr, have essentially marked the incoming second-year guard as ‘untouchable.’
It’s a plot twist, considering how easy it is to be fixated with Kuminga, a 6’8 forward with athleticism and a developing efficiency, especially since he just had his best season yet (16.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 52.9 FG%).
‘Podz’ was selected 19th overall by Golden State in the 2023 NBA draft. He has been an interesting story as he rode the bench at University of Illinois as a freshman (1.4 PPG, 4.3 MPG), transferred to University of California, Santa Barbara for his sophomore year, and suddenly played so well (19.9 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 3.7 APG, 43.8 3P%) that he skyrocketed up the draft boards. Peep the rebounding numbers and note that he’s only 6’5.
The hardworking brand of ball has continued into the pros as he finished with 9.2 points, 5.8 boards (7.8 per 36), and 3.7 assists per contest, which deservingly earned him a spot in the All-Rookie First Team. He is a good scorer, active on the glass, and a good facilitator, so what’s not to like?
The trust among coaches is also evident as Podz had 26.6 minutes per game and 28 total starts, a considerable difference compared to what Kuminga (16.9 MPG, 12 starts) and Moody (11.7 MPG, 11 starts) each had in their first season.
Should he be exempted in the Markkanen trade talks, though?
Podziesmki does look like he can have a bright future, and it says a lot that he can contribute in many facets even as a rookie. He’s a future All-Star for all we know. Markkanen is also an unrestricted free agent after 2024-25, and will likely ask for a truckload of money.
Then again, if Curry, the current franchise cornerstone, is already unhappy that his partner in crime left, and has subtly hinted at looking elsewhere soon, maybe you have to pull the trigger?
Also, don’t discount Markkanen’s services. As a sweet-shooting, stretch four, he won the 2022-23 Most Improved Player of the Year award, and has put up All-Star numbers over the last two seasons:
- 2022-23: 25.2 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 49.9 FG%
- 2023-24: 23.6 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 48.0 FG%
Recent comments from Warriors owner Joe Lacob may have signaled that it’s in a stalemate for now, but we’ll see. Maybe this can get done before the next season starts?
