Many would argue the Golden State Warriors need an upgrade next to Stephen Curry in the backcourt, but Brandin Podziemski’s recent contract extension would suggest he’s secure as the team’s starting shooting guard of the present and future.
It also means the Warriors can forget about a trade with the Orlando Magic involving one of their younger guards, with the franchise clearly needing to make a choice between Jalen Suggs and Anthony Black in the next 12 months.
Warriors can forget about Magic trade after Brandin Podziemski extension
Black finds himself in the same situation Podziemski was in as eligible for a rookie extension, yet the outcome appears as if it will be entirely different according to a recent report from insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer.
“Sources say that the sides have not engaged in any meaningful extension dialogue to date — not during the offseason or even since training camps began — because the Magic have concerns about the long-term financial obligations they have already stacked up by signing Jalen Suggs to a lucrative extension in addition to frontcourt stalwarts Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner and summer of 2025 marquee trade acquisition Desmond Bane,” Fischer and Stein wrote.
Suggs would be an interesting fit next to Curry in the backcourt, providing more defensively than Podziemski as the Warriors search for a genuine point-of-attack defender. The 25-year-old still has upside as a scorer and creator, having battled injury issues where he’s played more than 57 games just once in his first five seasons.
Black, meanwhile, took a major leap last season and would have also presented as an interesting trade target, particularly given the Magic have now proven unwilling to commit to the 22-year-old before restricted free agency next summer.
Warriors likely to target center upgrade in mid-season trade
Podziemski’s extension drastically reduces any chance of the Warriors trading for another guard this season, especially considering Brandon Williams has made an impact off the bench and gives the team a solid reserve duo with he and De’Anthony Melton.
Any mid-season trade is likely to bring in a frontcourt player, particularly given one or multiple will likely be going out with Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis on expiring contracts.
Given Porzingis’ latest health concern, Golden State will likely look at a center upgrade if the former All-Star can’t be consistently available. Their forward depth looks reasonable with Green, Yaxel Lendeborg, Gui Santos and Butler when he returns, but the five spot clearly looks vulnerable with Porzingis and a 40-year-old Al Horford.
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