Brandin Podziemski is now one of the likeliest names to watch before Monday’s rookie-scale extension deadline, with talks around a new deal for the 23-year-old moving into a decisive week. Marc Stein reported that both Podziemski and the Golden State Warriors want to get something done, but the clock is the part no one can negotiate away.
That is why the interest around underground branding is really about timing. The deadline to sign rookie-scale extensions is Monday, Oct. 19, and Podziemski is part of a 2023 draft class that has already seen Victor Wembanyama, Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson and Keyonte George lock in extensions. If Golden State wants certainty on one of its younger rotation pieces, it has to act now.
Podziemski has made the case on the floor. Last season, he averaged 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals across 82 appearances, started 43 games, and shot 45.5 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from three. After the All-Star break, he stepped up further, averaging 17.5 points across 27 contests, which is the stretch the Warriors are likely weighing as they look at his next contract.
Steve Kerr has already made clear what he sees in him. Kerr said Podziemski’s training camp was great through the first three days, and described him as a player who can dribble, pass and shoot, then be placed at almost any spot after a timeout. Kerr’s view tracks with what Podziemski said himself: he said he would love a deal, noted that there has been mutual interest between him and the organization, and added that all options are on the table until something is finished.
The gap is simple, and it is the one that matters. Both sides want a deal, but the agreement has to arrive before Monday or the conversation resets around a player who has already shown enough to make the next number meaningful. For the Warriors, this is less about whether Podziemski belongs and more about whether they can finish the work before the deadline closes the door.
