The Warriors have picked up their rookie scale team option on guard Brandin Podziemski for the 2026/27 season, the team announced today in a press release (Twitter link).
The move, which was considered a sure thing to happen prior to Friday’s deadline, locks in Podziemski’s $5,679,458 salary for the fourth and final year of his rookie contract. He’ll now be eligible for a rookie scale extension during the 2026 offseason and would reach restricted free agency in 2027 if he and the Warriors don’t work out a new deal before then.
[RELATED: Decisions On 2026/27 Rookie Scale Team Options]
Podziemski, 22, has been a regular part of Golden State’s rotation since being drafted 19th overall in 2023. The former Santa Clara star averaged 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 26.8 minutes per game in 64 outings last season, posting a shooting line of .445/.372/.758. He’s off to a solid start this year too, scoring 12.2 PPG and knocking down 42.3% of his three-point attempts through five games, including three starts.
Podziemski is one of six Warriors players whose contract includes an option for 2026/27, but he’s the only one of those six on a rookie scale contract. While rookie scale options must be exercised by October 31, decisions on player options for Draymond Green, Al Horford, and De’Anthony Melton, along with team options for Jonathan Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis, won’t be due until next June.
Built for the present. Building well for the future. AND one of the best suited to pounce if and when Giannis is ready to bid farewell to the greater Wisconsin area. Executive of the Year nominee……Mr. Michael…Dunleavy….Jooooo-nyerrrrrrrrrr!
YOU KNOW BALL!!!!
For that plan you need to not extend Podz because his cap hold would be tiny. Then in the summer you can sign Giannis, because Steph will take a discount to make cap space for him, and then extend Podz after you use the space.
Lets address the elephant in the room: If Giannis is on the Warriors, can Draymond Green exist on the roster at $25+M? Or is it better to have a Steph+Giannis+a long, well-rounded bench? Draymond will likely not take a paycut.
I think they’ll let him reach RFA in summer ‘27 and keep his $17M cap hold on the books. They are lined up to have max cap space that summer, so it would make sense to preserve that, try to sign a star, and then go over the cap to re-sign Podz.
The way he stays happy is if you do the same as Maxey where you guarantee a generous offer will be there if he waits. Its a little harder since he wont be a pretty clear near rookie max, so you need to give him a floor, and agree to go higher if he balls out.
I’m curious as to how GSW will build for the 2027 market and beyond. Podz is not really a fit with Steph there. That’s 2 alphas trying to play the same role. It’s Steph’s team, bye bye Podz.
Spotrac approves this trade (but they dont have a section for draft picks, just add them in at your leisure.
Bucks get:
Jonathan Kuminga
Jimmy Butler II (they might move him to another team for a better rebuild-fit)
Brandin Podziemski (from Wisconsin)
Trayce Jackson-Davis (from Wisconsin)
Obviously draft picks
Warriors get:
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Kyle Kuzma (for salary matching purposes only, I would think GSW would move him elsewhere or even waive him)
Maybe some pick swaps
oops, I meant “Jimmy Butler III” my bad.
> Podz is not really a fit with Steph there.
I’m interested in why you say that because:
– Podz is the starting SG now.
– He’s started alongside Steph every game that the 2 of them have been available, including playoffs and this season, since Jimmy arrived.
– GSW has won 77% of the games the two have started together, and have a losing record when they don’t.
– Podz is -not- “the starting SG now”. Kerr literally announced he is going with 4 starters and 1 rotating guy, Podz being in that rotating group, but Jimmy Butler III will be the SG when they play Kuminga and a C. What you said is not true.
– How many rings has that got us? It’s clear Podz and Steph out there together is not working well because Podz isn’t an elite starting level player in this league, only Kerr thinks that. He is a 6th man. GSW needs a Klay to go with Steph. Podz is not Klay, if anything Moses Moody is closer to that 3+D Klay than Podz is.
– GSW won 0% of the last 4 games of the year last season, when it mattered most. Beating non-playoff teams doesn’t matter. Strange you would think they are more important than playoffs.
Podziemski is the 3rd best player with the Warriors
Few people understand this.
Tier 1
Curry, Butler, Pod
Tier 2
Draymond, Kuminga
Tier 3
Horford, Moody, Payton, Hield