Less than a week after signing a rookie contract extension with the Golden State Warriors, Brandin Podziemski has been given a helpful benchmark in terms of future performance after Payton Pritchard agreed to a two-year, $44.2 million deal with the Boston Celtics.
Already contracted for $7.7 and $8.3 million over the next two seasons, Pritchard’s new extension and his subsequent output sets somewhat of a guide for the Warriors and Podziemski in their evaluation of the five-year, $110 million contract he signed on Saturday.
Payton Pritchard’s deal gives Brandin Podziemski important benchmark
The respective deals signed in the past week are at effectively the same annual salary, though the Warriors have committed to Podziemski over the long haul and seemingly think of the young guard as a pillar of their franchise moving beyond the Stephen Curry era.
Pritchard and Podziemski aren’t exactly similar players, but their skillsets and obviously position align close enough that their numbers and production can be compared in the future to analyse and judge the value of the rookie extension Golden State just handed out.
Most would argue Pritchard is the better player right now, owing to his shot-creation and shot-making that’s seen genuine improvement in each of the past four seasons. The Celtics guard won Sixth Man of the Year in 2025 after averaging 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists, before Jayson Tatum’s absence for much of last season saw him elevate to 17.0 points and 5.2 assists.
Pritchard could see another leap thanks to more responsibility, with Boston having traded Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers at the start of free agency. Still, there’s reason to believe Podziemski could join him on a similar level and for both to prove they're worth the contracts they just received.
Brandin Podziemski can comfortably reach Payton Pritchard level
Jimmy Butler’s long-term knee injury will also give Podziemski significant opportunity until at least January or February, having secured the starting shooting guard role over De’Anthony Melton ahead of opening night.
The 23-year-old is also five years younger than Pritchard, suggesting he has more room for growth which Golden State are banking on as they look to maintain a spot in the Western Conference playoff race before Butler and Moses Moody return.
Perhaps Podziemski never quite becomes the shot-maker that Pritchard is and will continue to be, but he has a versatile enough skillset that suggests they can have a similar impact on winning and that both can be viewed in a similar light.
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