With Klay Thompson leaving in the offseason, the Warriors will have a different starting backcourt in 2024-25. They still have Steph Curry at PG. But the team needs to find someone to replace Thompson at SG. The only player Golden State can potentially replace Thompson with is one already on the roster.
Brandin Poziemski was the Warriors’ 19th overall pick out of Santa Clara in 2023. He appeared in 74 of the Warriors’ 82 games last season, starting 28 of them. This offseason, the Warriors attempted to trade with the Jazz for All-Star SF Lauri Markkanen. In return, Utah wants the pick and SG Brandin Poziemski. According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the Warriors do not want to trade Brandin Poziemski this offseason.
Golden State views Brandin Poziemski as a key piece to their roster.
The Golden State Warriors aren’t considering a trade for Brandin Poziemski. @anthonyVslater
“They don’t want to trade (Podziemski). He’s loved by the organization… One of the rare aspects of him compared to other recent Warriors picks is that Steve Kerr couldn’t stop him… pic.twitter.com/edvofgsZbd
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 17, 2024
As a rookie, Brandin Podziemski got his fair share of minutes from head coach Stever Kerr, averaging (26.6) per game. The 21-year-old averaged (9.2) points, (5.8) rebounds and (3.7) assists per game. Before being drafted by the Warriors, Podziemski started out at the University of Illinois in 2021-22. After seeing limited playing time, Pozdiemski entered the transfer portal and landed in Santa Clara. Under Brinco, Podziemski averaged (19.9) points per game on an incredible (. 438) percent shooting from 3-point range.
His outstanding campaign in Santa Clara made him a player the Warriors wanted to draft, and they did. They saw Podziemski as a player who could fit in well with Steph Curry. Now that Klay Thompson is out of the team, Podziemski will have every chance to be the starter in 2024-25. Coach Stever Kerr couldn’t keep Podziemski off the floor as a rookie. That bodes well for him to earn a starting spot next season.
Brandin Poziemski didn’t have to play in the summer league because he was a starter for Team USA, but he decided to go out and play in back-to-back games to see what he could do in practice. pic.twitter.com/A5zRx3rceN
— Jordan Richard (@JordanRichardSC) July 15, 2024
Compared to other rookies drafted by Golden State during the Stever Kerr era, Brandin Podziemski has seen significant playing time as a rookie. Take Jonathan Kuminga for example. During his rookie season in 2021-22, he averaged just (16.9) points per game and made only 12 starts. Podziemski made 28 starts in his rookie season. Expect the young SG to make big strides in Year 2.
