Since the 2022 NBA championship, the Golden State Warriors have been in free fall. After barely qualifying for the playoffs and getting smoked by the Los Angeles Lakers, the team didn’t make it back last season.
As a result, the roster has gone through a seismic shift. Lifelong franchise icon Klay Thompson is out and Chris Paul is no longer on the team thanks to a waiver.
However, the team and management have been working hard to build a competent roster around Stephen Curry. The additions of Buddy Hield, De’Anthony Melton, and Kyle Anderson give the team some quality role players.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors Updates
Further, it adds to the team’s depth, giving them 10-11 legit rotational pieces on the squad. However, in today’s NBA, with stars springing at every corner, the Warriors lack true star-caliber threats. As a result, the trade for Lauri Markkanen has been at top priority for GM Mike Dunleavy.
As it turns out, Zach Lowe and Tim McMahon were discussing a potential deal, and the answer is relatively simple.
Branden Podziemski is the missing piece for Lauri Markkanen
Speaking on the Zach Lowe podcast, McMahon made an “educated speculation” for what the price for Markkanen could end up being. “I do think that if Podziemski is not in the deal, there wouldn’t be a deal.” Immediately, Lower corroborated McMahon’s story, claiming, “So Podziemski and 3-4 Warriors 1st round picks and swaps unprotected, betting against the Warriors going forward with Steph aging and Markkanen as the guy, and Draymond aging as well“
As a rookie, Brandin was second to none among the Golden State youth train. While names like Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and Trayce Jackson-Davis have all shown flashes to varying degrees, Podziemski looks like the real deal. Even though Dunleavy himself is high on Kuminga and a Year 4 leap, Branden has made himself a valuable part of the cast.
As a rookie, the youngster played in 74 games for the Bay, starting in 28 as he became a valuable contributor on both ends. Offensively, his average of 9.2 ppg on 38.5% from 3-point range paved the way for a 5th-place finish in the Rookie of the Year race.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors Updates
On the defensive end as well, his hustle made him a perpetual founder of the basketball while deflecting and attacking passing lanes with abandon.
As a result, the team might be hard-pressed to send him out in a potential deal. Entering his second year, there is no guarantee just how much improvement Podziemski could show in the very near future. But, the question for Golden State might come down to prioritizing the tail end of Curry’s prime.
What does Lauri Markkanen bring to Golden State?
Throughout the entirety of the Steph Curry era in San Francisco, the team has struggled with size. But, thanks to the unbelievable shooting from their 2 best players, it was hard to argue with the results. However, in recent years, that size disadvantage has become a major problem with opposing teams exposing the deficit down low.
In Lauri Markkanen, the Warriors get a legit 7-footer without compromising their sweet-shooting ball and player-movement-heavy style of play.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors Updates
Lauri has rejuvenated his career since coming to the Utah Jazz in the Donovan Mitchell trade. Markkanen has become a genuine star in the league by finding consistency beyond the arc while increasing his aggressiveness from the post and driving to the cup.
Last season, in 55 games, the Finnish-born superstar averaged 23.3 ppg on 40% shooting from distance and 48% from the field. Lauri, a MIP winner and one-time All-Star, could be invaluable to the Warriors, especially at the minuscule asking price of $18 million.
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