ESPN's Shams Charania first reported the news on X on Saturday, Oct. 10, citing Podziemski's agent, Bill Duffy of WME Basketball. The Warriors have since confirmed the move to USA TODAY Sports. The rookie-scale extension is fully guaranteed with a mutual option in the fifth year and a trade kicker.
The Warriors confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that the team agreed to a new contract with Podziemski.
Podziemski will be playing in the last year of his rookie contract this season. His extension will kick in next season.
What are Brandin Podziemski's stats with Golden State?
Brandin Podziemski has played three seasons in the NBA, all with the Golden State Warriors. He averages 11.6 points, 3.6 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game.
He played all 82 games last season in the 2025-26 campaign and started 43 times. He averaged 13.8 points, 3.7 assists and 5.1 boards per matchup.
When do the Warriors start the 2026-27 NBA season?
The Golden State Warriors tip off their 2026-27 season on Wednesday, Oct. 21 in an away game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 5: Ebuka Okorie #23 of the Detroit Pistons is interviewed after the game against the Phoenix Suns during a preseason game on October 5, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA preseason is a great time to work out some kinks, give reserves more opportunities to thrive, and for players to get their legs back under them. The Detroit Pistons did most of that in their first preseason win over the Phoenix Suns.
Detroit travels to the nation’s capital in a matchup with 2026 first overall pick AJ Dybantsa and the Washington Wizards. The Detroit key players only played around 20 minutes Monday night. Let’s see if J.B. Bickerstaff ramps that up a bit and gets Jalen Duren out there, or will it be the Ebuka Okorie show.
GAME VITALS
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
When: 7:00 PM EST
Watch: TV20 Detroit/DAZN-DET
Odds: Pistons (-4.5)
Bickerstaff said Duren will play in the preseason and could make his debut tonight. Duren said he wants to improve as a rim and pick-and-roll defender. If he does suit up for a bit tonight, he’d have plenty of opportunities to show PnR growth with Trae Young, Anthony Davis, and Deandre Ayton spamming actions. Washington has downhill guards he can sway away from the basket if they manage to get by Detroit’s perimeter defenders.
Ausar Thompson showed growth in his biggest swing skill for this Pistons build to work: creation. His jumper is always at the top of the conversation, but being a legit playmaker next to Cade Cunningham unlocks this team.
Ausar was aggressive getting to the rack, keeping his options open versus the Suns. He’d rim run to score or to throw dimes to Paul Reed and spot-up shooters. Seeing his midrange jumper drop spoke to his mindset in that outing. The makes were cool, but the attempts were better. Getting them up to gain the defense’s respect will aid his playmaking chops.
Ron Holland attempted the most shots on the squad. Some were good looks, some were out of control, but his game-wrecking defense was there as always. Holland flew around the court terrorizing Phoenix backups. The Wizards have a ton of guards with off-the-bounce juice. Holland will see plenty of Tre Johnson, Tre Mann, and maybe Young tonight.
Okorie was thrown into the fire with 10 minutes to go and did not disappoint. His defensive effort was there. The microwave scoring was as good as advertised. We should get used to those extended finishes. Okorie uses every bit of his 6-foot-8ish wingspan and turbo jets to get by defenders and finish from different angles. Bickerstaff praised the 19-year-old’s ability to finish at that age. He’s ahead of the curve.
Alex Sarr is questionable after missing Washington’s first preseason game. He’s a do-it-all big that Isaac Jones, John Collins (who had a Detroit-like debut), and Reed will deal with in their minutes. Jones was more than solid defensively Monday night. He set advantage-creating screens that freed up himself and his teammates.
Preseason is like a practice test. See what you got wrong and drill those principles for the real thing. The starters came out flat offensively, but Bickerstaff acknowledged that a new offense takes longer to click than defense. Use this game to get going.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, John Collins, Jalen Duren
Washington Wizards: Trae Young, Kyshawn George, AJ Dybantsa, Alex Sarr, Anthony Davis
QUESTION OF THE DAY
What do you want to see from Jalen Duren the most this season?
HONOLULU, HI - OCTOBER 4: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a free throw during the game against the LA Clippers during the 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 4, 2026 at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jay Metzger/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s safe to say that Brandin Podziemski has been the star of training camp for the Golden State Warriors. The fourth-year guard earned rave reviews at the start of camp for his play, looks to be in pole position for a starting job, and has shined in the team’s preseason games. And now he’s getting paid.
On Saturday morning, ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news that Podziemski and the Warriors had agreed on a contract extension for five years and $110 million. Per ESPN’s Anthony Slater, the first year of Podziemski’s deal (2027-28) will pay him $18.9 million, with subsequent pay raises pushing him to $20.4 million, $22 million, $23.5 million, and $25 million. The final year of the deal (2031-32) is a mutual option and, like most large NBA deals, the contract also includes a trade kicker, meaning Podziemski will receive a pay bump if the Warriors trade him (though the kicker can be waived to facilitate a deal).
Podziemski, who averaged a career-high 13.8 points per game last year while playing in all 82 of the team’s games (and starting 43 times), is in the final year of his first-round rookie scale contract. While the lefty made it clear that he was more focused on basketball than on future deals, there was a little bit of urgency in getting an extension sorted out because of the timeline. Players entering the final year of their rookie-scale contract have until the eve of the season to sign an extension; if a deal is not agreed upon by then, it cannot be signed during the season, and the player will enter restricted free agency in the offseason.
The deal makes lots of sense for both sides. For the Warriors, it’s a fair rate when you account for both the player Podziemski currently is, and the player the team hopes he can continue to develop into, while also locking him in for a great price if he has a breakout season, and keeping him from running up the price in a free agent bidding war. For the 23-year old Podziemski, it gives him a hefty pay raise (he’ll make $5.7 million this year), and also offers him security from any setbacks this year, such as injuries.
We’ll see if Podziemski celebrates by going off in tonight’s preseason game against the Sacramento Kings.
From the Warriors' perspective this feels like smart business, they hang on to someone they see as part of their future without impacting cap space.
Golden State fan favorite Brandin Podziemski is staying in Golden State after the sides agreed to a five-year, $110 million rookie contract extension, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports. There is a mutual option for both the player and the team in the fifth year.
That's solid starter money for the 6'4" guard who played in all 82 games for the Warriors last season (starting 43) and led the team in mintues, averaging 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 37.1% from 3-point range. He's also a solid perimeter defender, which the Warriors need next to Stephen Curry, even if that pair doesn't always feel like the most natural fit (like Klay Thompson was). That said, Steve Kerr and the Warriors staff clearly trust him by how much they have him on the court.
While the Warriors could have held out to try and get Podziemski to sign for less as a restricted free agent, they wanted to keep a fan favorite and not risk another team making an even larger offer next summer to try and poach him.
This contract will start at $18.9 million next season, reports Anthony Slater of ESPN. Podziemski's cap hold for next summer would have already been $17 million, so this contract doesn't really eat into the $55-60 million in cap space the Warriors expect to have next summer to chase a star or stars to put next to Curry (or re-sign Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green).
Podziemski becomes the fifth player from the 2023 NBA Draft class to reach a rookie-scale extension so far, joining Victor Wembanyama, Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson and Keyonte George. The deadline for extensions for anyone else in that class is Oct. 19.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 8: Sandro Mamukelashvili #54 of the Los Angeles Lakers, Dylan Cardwell #32 of the Sacramento Kings and Matisse Thybulle #26 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on during the game on October 8, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
First impressions are important.
Whether it’s your appearance during a job interview, how your jokes land on a blind date or the execution of an offensive set in a team’s preseason game, a lot could be garnered from that first blink.
That said, it’s also easy to get too lost in the noise of small samples. It’s understandable to have knee-jerk reactions, both good and bad, but sifting through the context and finding kernels of truth is the best way to navigate the maze that is the NBA preseason.
Players miss games, rotations are out of whack, effort levels range wildly and playbooks are still a work in progress.
That’s all been the case for the Lakers in their three preseason games.
And yet, there have also been flashes of validity worth keeping an eye on. Let’s examine some of those things that could carry over into the season.
The good
With so much roster turnover and the natural identity shift that comes with LeBron James’ departure, there were expected growing pains heading into the Lakers’ exhibition period.
That’s been seen in various areas already. However, it’s not been as severe as previously assumed. In fact, there has been an immediate and innate chemistry seen on the floor that has been encouraging.
First-time teammates are flowing and jiving with one and other despite the lack of time together. Whether improvised or organized, the new and returning players are exhibiting a natural chemistry on offense.
Errant passes and missed defensive rotations are still ongoing. But the intent is there. And the overall enthusiasm has leaped from the screen.
A big reason for the clean fit is that there is no misconception about roles. With James gone, there is no confusion about the pecking order in terms of shot creation. And as a result, the rest of the team can settle into natural duties and expectations.
New players like Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams and Sandro Mamukelashvili have specifically benefited from this.
By embracing their 3-and-D roles and low usage on offense, Thybulle and Williams have stood out as seamless fits next to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
Whether it’s making the extra pass, grabbing and going or just opening up the floor with his spacing ability, he’s filled in whatever gaps the team has needed.
Look at the spacing from the Lakers without Luka/Reaves in the lineup. Mamu just feels like a gadget player that can boost a lot of lineups post starters. Good drive and kick from Bronny James to get Mamu a 3. pic.twitter.com/kWhbQG0Z08
There are many hurdles the Lakers will have to leap throughout the year as a new team and roster. It’s early, but at least on the cohesion front, they appear ahead of schedule.
The bad
Determining what is real or fake from preseason basketball often depends on how much things would change if regular lineups were used in a game.
The Lakers, for example, have yet to have all of their core players and expected starters available at the same time through their first three games. Despite this, the absence of players, most notably Walker Kessler, has actually highlighted a concern many had for the team dating back to the summer.
The question of how the Lakers will fare in non-Kessler minutes feels even more pressing now that we’ve seen their options in action.
Kevon Looney has done a serviceable job in Kessler’s absence, but his minutes have also displayed where his athletic limitations will hinder his impact the more he’s relied upon.
Head coach JJ Redick has also experimented with going small by playing Mamukelashvili at the five spot. The offensive upside definitely improves, but there’s a clear defensive ceiling to those groups and likely will be better in moderation.
Kessler’s absence has also highlighted the team’s overall rebounding deficiencies.
While preseason stats definitely should be taken with a grain of salt, the lineup and roster construction show some validity to why the Lakers have allowed the fourth-highest offensive rebound percentage in the preseason thus far.
Things may have also been exacerbated by Redick’s preference to use his bigger wings/forwards as point-of-attack defenders. This often leaves the guards tasked with helping secure boards against their bigger opponents.
Kessler won’t solve the team’s rebounding concerns on his own, but he will surely help considerably. The issue is that if he ever misses any significant time this season, this weakness could turn into a severe flaw.
The murkiness
As is typically the case with the preseason, there are still lingering questions that will require answers. Chief among them is what the rotation will actually look like once every one is available.
Safe assumptions can be made given the types of lineups Redick has deployed thus far. A player like Williams, for example, seems to be in the lead to secure the final starting spot.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Jarred Vanderbilt appears out of the immediate rotation given being used sparingly and mainly in garbage time despite the number of players the team has missed.
The team must also still shed at least one player prior to opening night to remain in league compliance.
Even more severe than Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht’s playing time opportunities seem to be slim at best, making him the leading candidate to be cut if the Lakers opt to go that route.
The other potential victim of the roster crunch could be Jaden Hardy. The guard has struggled in his chances this preseason and may cut into the minutes of the younger backcourt players on the roster. What is in Hardy’s favor in making the final squad is the helpfulness of his expiring $6 million contract for potential trades down the line.
Answers to these questions will naturally arise as we inch closer to the regular season. And while the games technically won’t matter until then, there are still moments and decisions now that could have important ramifications when they do.
All stats courtesy of Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise stated. You can follow Alex on Bluesky at @alexregla.bsky.social.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 02: Vj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers a three point basket during the third quarter of a game against the Boston Celtics in Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at TD Garden on May 02, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Philadelphia 76ers split their first two preseason games, and will now head to Boston for their penultimate preseason contest against the Celtics.
Before the preseason began, head coach Nick Nurse said the plan was for the team’s key players to appear in two of the three exhibition games. After the starting five made its debut in Brooklyn the other night, it seems likely Nurse will sit some players on Saturday. We’ll see if Nurse opts to play his regulars tonight or wait for the preseason finale next Friday in South Philly.
One of the game’s more interesting storylines will be Jaylen Brown’s return to Boston after being traded this summer. While a preseason game doesn’t carry the same weight as a regular-season matchup, it’s still worth watching. The Sixers won’t face the Celtics again until November, and they won’t return to Boston during the regular season until the calendar flips. Brown played in the first two preseason games. We’ll see if he plays in his return to Boston or he saves that for the regular season.
Like Philadelphia, Boston enters the season with several new faces. Paul George now joins Jayson Tatum as one of the franchise’s cornerstone players, while veteran additions Mike Conley and Mitchell Robinson bring experience and depth. Robinson, in particular, could present an intriguing matchup against Joel Embiid once the games start to matter. Even after moving on from a former Finals MVP, the Celtics remain one of the Eastern Conference’s top contenders and a team the Sixers may cross paths with when the stakes are higher.
The Sixers looked sharp in the first half against Brooklyn, creating quality looks as the Nets struggled to account for all of their offensive options. That opened the door for players like VJ Edgecombe to find plenty of space and easy scoring opportunities. It’s still the preseason, and there’s only so much to take away from October basketball, but Philadelphia’s offense showed encouraging signs in their first game. Boston, a much stronger opponent on paper, should provide a better measuring stick — if the starters play.
The Sixers will also be keeping an eye on a few injury situations. Anfernee Simons, Dominick Barlow and Adem Bona are all expected to remain sidelined. In their absence, Jabari Walker has stepped into the backup center role and has put together a strong preseason so far. We’ve also seen some of their two-way players, Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert, step up and produce in limited time.
The Sixers have plenty to clean up. Joel Embiid looked healthy and moved well, but his eight turnovers were part of a larger issue, as Philadelphia committed too many careless mistakes throughout the night. The talent and potential are obvious. Now it’s about building chemistry, finding a rhythm, and developing consistency as the group settles in.
As the preseason winds down, the focus for Philadelphia will be on cutting down the self-inflicted mistakes, continuing to build cohesion, and getting through the game healthy. The Sixers showed encouraging flashes against Brooklyn, but Boston presents a much tougher challenge and should provide a better indication of where this group stands heading into the regular season. Preseason or not, though, a win over the Celtics is always welcome.
Game Details
When: Thursday, October 9, 8 p.m. ET Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA Watch: NBCSP, NBA TV
QUEBEC CITY, CANADA - OCTOBER 03: Immanuel Quickley #5 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball past Davion Mitchell #2 of the Miami Heat during the first half in a preseason NBA game at the Videotron Centre on October 3, 2026 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While Kawhi Leonard’s official return will have to wait, the Toronto Raptors’ upcoming pre-season contest against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday should have no shortage of fascinating storylines, particularly for those wondering about what kind of progress players have made over the summer.
With tip-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST on TSN, fans in Vancouver could potentially be treated to the most accurate glimpse of the roster’s ceiling (or baseline). It would be a small sample size, but Raptors Nation is eager to find out if the roster has improved enough to support its newest superstar.
Here are three thoughts headed into the game:
The actual dress rehearsal?
Even without Leonard, the penultimate exhibition game could serve as the first (and last) real look at what the rest of the team looks like. Should Head Coach Darko Rajakovic rest his starters or have them operating on limited minutes, then this matchup will be the one to overanalyze.
In their 129-105 loss to the Miami Heat on Oct. 3, the Raptors were without nine players. That group included key players like Leonard, Allen Graves, Jamison Battle, Alijah Martin, Kyle Anderson and Trayce Jackson-Davis. Toronto shot 12/41 (29 per cent) from deep, driving fans to wonder if another season of poor shooting awaits around the corner. Should Graves and Battle be healthy enough to suit up, that’ll be a decent amount of added firepower.
It would also be the first time audiences watch Graves on the court with Scottie Barnes. They’re both jumbo playmakers that wreak havoc on defence. If Barnes is healthy enough to play (he suffered a minor knee scare against the Heat), it’ll be interesting to see how he and Graves play off each other. That first defensive highlight or big-to-big pass will do numbers on social media.
This is a big season for Battle, who is in the final year of his contract. Shooters become game-changing components of an elite offence when next to a legit star like Leonard.
Go watch Immanuel Quickley
If a player like Battle can dramatically impact win probabilities while playing next to elite talent, then someone like Immanuel Quickley is capable of earning end-of-season honours. It’s difficult to see Toronto with three All-Stars. It’s doubtful the team ends up with three players on one of the All-NBA teams. But Quickley could get into discussions, especially for the Most Improved Player, if he can reach the levels he did during the backend of his tenure with the New York Knicks.
The discourse around General Manager and Executive Vice-President Bobby Webster potentially acquiring someone like Kyrie Irving is thought-provoking. However, Quickley’s success can shield Toronto from spending even more of its resources. When Quickley is at his best, he’s truly the perfect type of guard next to Leonard on the offensive side of the ball: an elite catch-and-shoot guard with intimidating range, who is also capable of attacking closeouts with a reliable floater.
The rookie impresses early
Graves is the type of player who excels when surrounded by professional talent. In his first game with actual NBA players, don’t be surprised if he meshes perfectly with his teammates. Graves is the connective tissue on offence. He could play the “offensive hub” role that Barnes normally occupies, especially when the latter hits the bench. On the defensive end, Graves was praised for his active and quick hands. He’ll join an army of defenders that patrolled passing lanes at an elite level during the 2025-26 season.
Prediction: 12 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, two made threes, and a fun sequence with Collin Murray-Boyles
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MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 07: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic goes to the basket against Cameron Boozer #27 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half at FedExForum on October 07, 2026 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Wednesday, the Memphis Grizzlies, featuring Cameron Boozer, fresh off a sensational freshman year for Duke, took on the Orlando Magic.
The star of the Magic is another member of the Brotherhood, Paolo Banchero, and after the game, he had this to say about Memphis’s prize rookie:
“He looked pro ready, definitely composed. Thought he just played very good basketball, played within himself, took the right shots. Yeah, I think Memphis has something to be excited about with him.”
It’s still the preseason, and by definition, it’s really early in the NBA season. Still, we’ve seen a number of NBA veterans say really positive things about the rising young star.
On Friday, the Grizzlies play Chicago, where Boozer will again encounter former AAU teammate and ACC rival Caleb Wilson. That should be interesting, to say the least.
He’s led the team in scoring in its first two preseason games, notching 40 points across his 41 minutes on the court. The former Celtic has shot 59.1 percent from the floor, 50 percent from three-point range and 83.3 percent at the foul line.
Brown has showcased the value he could bring to the Sixers and to Tyrese Maxey in particular this season.
Like he was for the Celtics in 2025-26, Brown was the go-to guy in the preseason opener while Maxey, LeBron James and Joel Embiid were inactive. All of his 22 points came in the first half as he consistently initiated the offense, repeatedly attacking in isolation and off ball screens.
The second game was a slightly different story as all five of the team’s projected starters suited up for the first time. Brown capitalized on great ball movement by James and Embiid with a dunk early in the first quarter. But he only took one more shot in the first stanza and didn’t score again until the 3:54 mark in the second.
Each of his remaining three baskets came with Maxey off the floor, perhaps giving Sixers fans a glimpse of what splitting the two scorers’ minutes could look like.
Maxey was a workhorse for the Sixers last season. His 38 minutes per game led the league. With Embiid playing 38 regular season games and Paul George available for just 37, Nick Nurse relied heavily on Maxey to create offense. VJ Edgecombe pitched in here and there. But 2026-27 should be a different story.
With the potential for Embiid (who hasn’t played 40 or more games in a regular season since 2022-23) and James (who will turn 42 years old in December) to miss time, Brown’s presence can provide some meaningful relief for Maxey, especially given how Nurse wants the offense to run.
Under Nurse, the Sixers have been matchup hunters, subscribers to the weakest link theory. They spammed isolation ball in 2025-26, taking the second-most shots per game on isolation possessions in the NBA (9.3). On that high volume, the team was middle of the pack in terms of efficiency, scoring 0.92 points per possession in isolation, good for 15th in the NBA.
Maxey took more than double the shots off isolated looks than any other Sixer. While Embiid (1.01 PPP) and George (1.03) were both efficient on isolation possessions, their lack of availability often left Maxey alone searching for mismatches.
Barring an irregular decrease in availability, Brown should be the answer to playing Maxey less and allowing him to take possessions off.
As the guy on the Celtics offense last season, Brown scored the third most isolation points in the league. And it wasn’t just a matter of volume. He generated 1.01 points per isolation possession, good for the 77th percentile.
That’s been on display in the preseason. Right out of the gate against the Knicks, he attacked OG Anunoby – a two-time All-Defensive Second Team selection – off the dribble and hit a tough fadeaway jumper on the baseline.
Jaylen Brown scores tough jumper on iso vs. OG Anunoby. https://t.co/aFufwWqXPk
Brown’s success scoring in the mid-range is part of what makes him a tough individual cover. Basketball’s reliance on the mid-range shot has dwindled over time. But Brown made a living there last season, shooting 45.9% on 6.4 shots per game between 10 and 19 feet.
Part of what makes Brown so good at creating positive matchups to attack in isolation is how effective he is using ball screens. That’s another element of Brown’s game that should contribute to taking some of the onus off Maxey as the Sixers’ primary perimeter scorer.
The Sixers were middle of the road in both how often they used ball screens (19th) and how effective they were in those scenarios (11th in efficiency).
Of the team’s 16.1 possessions per game that used a ball screen, Maxey was the ball handler for 7.5 of them (46.7%). He generated 0.92 points per possession off a ball screen, which was in the 66th percentile in the NBA. But the Sixers did not have enough tenable options to pilot the offense off a ball screen.
Brown, again, is a reliable solution to that problem. He produced a similar efficiency to Maxey – 0.93 points per possession, good for the 70th percentile – on 6.4 such looks per game in 2025-26.
Against the Knicks in the first preseason game, he used an Ariel Hukporti screen and a slow dribble to get Anunoby on his back before exploiting Karl-Anthony Towns’ drop coverage and exploding through the open lane towards the basket.
Jaylen Brown exploits Knicks’ drop coverage by driving and putting back his own miss. https://t.co/pxgI5AdmBs
Brown’s effectiveness at coming off a ball screen, touching the paint and then making plays can contribute to opponents opting to switch ball screens. That’s how he becomes a nightmare for defenses to handle – and where he should thrive in Nurse’s offense. At 6-foot-6, 223 pounds, he can be a matchup problem for players both bigger and smaller than him.
He already has been as a Sixer. An Edgecombe screen forced the Nets to switch the 6-foot-4, 175-pound Keon Ellis onto Brown. Even with a help defender collapsing on him, he got to the basket and scored through contact.
Jaylen Brown scores a driving floater after forcing a switch via a VJ Edgecombe screen. https://t.co/Y6serlx6Gc
That’s how No. 7 tends to abuse switches onto guards: attacking the paint by dribbling into the post and overpowering them.
When he earns switches against bigs, he tends to rely on his twitchiness to get a jumper off, like he did on this fadeaway midrange look over Noah Clowney’s outstretched arm.
Jaylen Brown hits fadeaway jumper after Nets switch matchup between Brown and VJ Edgecombe. https://t.co/tdo5G6D5nA
Being the ball handler in a pick-and-roll isn’t the only way for Brown and the Sixers to create mismatches. He set a ball screen for Labaron Philon Jr. that Brooklyn switched between the 6-foot-8 Egor Demin and the 6-foot-8 Chaney Johnson.
Denim, a big guard, tried to get into Brown’s grill to throw him off. But this is where the former Finals MVP’s handle came into play. He absorbed the contact from Denim, ripped the ball across his chest, took a dribble between his legs and another back to his left hand before using his gather step to create enough separation for a silky 11-foot floater.
Jaylen Brown hits floater after creating a switch as the screener. https://t.co/IhNBNzd2QY
Brown’s unique combination of controlled strength and lithe explosiveness makes him the type of universal matchup beater that tends to thrive in a Nurse offense – and alleviate responsibility for the guys who’ve been burdened by it. He’s done just that through two games in a Sixers uniform.
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 7: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns passes the ball during the game against the Chicago Bulls on October 7, 2026 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to Inside the Suns, a deep down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team in which the Fantable – a roundtable of Bright Siders – give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: What’s your overall opinion of the Suns after watching the team play in preseason?
zenzino: Between media day and the first two preseason games, there were some highs and some lows. I’m not reading anything into any of it.
I learned last season that expectation is the killer of joy. From some of the takes on the last game thread, this season has seemed to come with some significant expectations from either overall play or individual players. It’s going to be a very long season for some people.
After SL and media day hype, Maluach fans were clamoring to elevate him to the unquestioned starter. That’s not happening. 100% Oso will be the starting center opening night. That’s ok. Just to put Man Man in perspective, Koa Peat is one year younger, but Koa has played basketball 10 more years than Man Man. He is condensing a lot of experience into a relatively short time. He’ll get there. Patience.
We caught a whiff of what Miles Bridges can mean to this team in the first game, followed by the Suns’ ‘injury curse’ in the second. He said he’s fine, but it remains to be seen how much he plays the rest of preseason, and that’s a shame.
It’s now hard to believe that just one year ago Goodie was fighting for that last roster spot and there was some debate whether it should be him or Butler. Both games changed instantly when he entered. I definitely get a certain amount of pleasure knowing some Lakers fans are tearing out their hair knowing the Lakers waived Goodie to keep Brony.
Obviously, the team needs some free-throw practice. The second game was better but not good enough.
I’m not worried about any of the players or rotations at this point. We have no idea how much of this is just testing lineups and processes and how much is actually going to carry through to the regular season.
Ashton: This is on a two-game sample size as of this writing, but wow is it ugly. I would have preferred to get this question next week after the Suns play SA. ESPN is doubting our center position depth, and I thought Oso and KM did “Okay”. Enough to handle Wemby? Probably not.
Sorry, Suns fans, I wanted to write something positive up, but I somehow managed to “turnover” my sunny outlook with two preseason losses. Use the trope “well, it is just preseason” all you want, but I expected way better ball handling than the turnover fest that I have seen. And then there is the crappy three-point shooting where first-half leads magically disappear that seems all too familiar. This looks like a “Sunzy” team. Booker, were you so focused on endorsing Stanley Cups (not hockey) with your dogs that you forgot to shoot threes?
Eh, I am not shifting off my less than 40 wins this season. If that makes me a hater, then so be it. Besides, John Voita already covered the Good, Bad, and Ugly.
Overall, I just think this team is just too raw. The third unit did not help boost my expectations and they need more time in the oven.
OldAz: Number 1 is that the NBA really needs to push the season back and start between Thanksgiving and Christmas (when Football games start to become more scarce. It’s just too early to remember Basketball is on, especially when it’s pre-season. Plus, it would extend the season more into the summer part of the sports calendar when it’s dead.
Number 2 is that my overall opinion will be grossly underinformed because I have only caught about 25% of each game, with heavy weighting to the 2nd halves when the starters were done.
Number 3 is that I think the team will be far more athletic and will be fun to watch. Not sure if that translates to more wins or not.
Rod: I hate to use the word “potential” but there it is. I see a lot of potential, both good and bad, in this team. If they can get the turnovers under control, I see the potential for this to be a 5th or 6th seed team in the West. If not (or they get even worse), there’s a possibility that they won’t even make it to the play-in stage…let along get past it. Can they get those TOs under control? That’s the biggest question for this team right now and unless that gets fixed, this season could turn out badly.
The one thing that is almost 100% unquestionable about this team is that the Suns’ 2nd unit is going to be one of the best (if not the best) in the NBA this season. Watching them play is an absolute joy and my favorite thing about this team at the moment.
Q2: What has surprised you about this team (so far)?
zenzino: Nothing from the players, really. I saw Brooks pass when he had an almost open shot. That was a pleasant surprise.
As far as the coaching side of the team, I am a little surprised that Ott said he’s going to keep the regular season rotation to “at most, a 10-man rotation”. That seems extraordinarily dumb. Why build depth if you’re not going to use it? It’s a long season. If you use your depth, it keeps everyone fresher at the end of the season, reduces chances for injury, and makes sure that if someone does go down, the next man up isn’t starting cold. I don’t understand it.
Ashton: There is usually someone that comes off the bench, and you go “That’s HIM!” Is that statement even a thing now?
I will give the surprise honor to Brooks for good shooting and all-around stats, winning the pillow fight with Benny the Bull, and somehow managing to do it all while under foul pressure. Also, who picks and wins a pillow fight with a bull?
Also, honorable mention shout-outs to Miles Bridges, who seemed to integrate seamlessly with the starting core before his ankle injury. And another surprise belongs to Luke Kennard, whom I expected to jack up perimeter shots but instead showed that he wanted to become an all-around NBA player with his assists. I expect good things from Kennard.
OldAz: That instead of a sophomore leap, KM and Fleming seem to have regressed some (at this point). I know it is early, but both have a great opportunity to step up and earn more minutes and a bigger role. So far, I’m surprised at how “bleh” they have looked, especially Fleming.
Rod: It has surprised me how many three-point shots the starters have been taking, especially since that’s not their strong suit. They’re tied for 12th most three-point attempts per game but 28th in three-point percentage?!? They average 16 3-pt attempts per game out of 34.5 FGAs per game, which works out to 46.7% of their FGAs being threes…not smart. And when you remove Oso’s 3.5 FGA average (obviously no 3-pt attempts by him), 51.6% of the other 4 starters’ FGAs come from beyond the three-point line.
Book especially needs to start doing what he does best, get back into his mid-range game, as 57.1% of his FGA have been from three…with only 8.3% of them falling. That’s NOT a typo: 8.3% from three. And Green needs to slow down on the long-range bombs too as 50% of his shot attempts have been threes, of which he’s hit only 25%. 56.2% of Brooks’ shots have also been from three BUT he has actually been hitting 55.6% of them! Fire away, Dillon! Bridges hasn’t been great from three (33.3%), but he also hasn’t quite gone three-point shot crazy, with only 33.3% of his attempts coming from downtown, so I’m good with his attempts number so far.
The starting unit was not built to play the 3-point game, and they need to get out of that mindset before the regular season begins.
Q3: Jordan Ott has said he’s going to play at most a 10-man rotation when the regular season starts. Which players do you think will wind up OUT of that 10-man rotation?
zenzino: This one came with an instruction to be brief. I can’t help but take that personally. 😉
SMH. If this is the case, I can’t imagine that same 10-man rotation. The last 2 or 3 of the 10 would have to change based on situation/matchups.
Here goes (full contract players only):
Mark Williams: He’s obviously out, and they think he’ll come back in time to help, so he’s keeping his full roster spot.
Koa Peat: He’s a rookie. He’ll spend some time in the G League.
Jamaree Bouyea: With all the guards, he’s the odd man out. I will be shocked if he doesn’t get some minutes when they need a spark.
Haywood Highsmith: Seems like he’s mostly there for insurance. Again, I’d be shocked if he doesn’t get some minutes when they need to spread the floor and ramp up defense.
This leaves Rasheer Fleming and Ryan Dunn. I honestly don’t know. It seems like Sheer hasn’t made the jump in the off-season. My guess is that Dunn will get the minutes to start the season and maybe Sheer will work his way into more minutes.
Again, I find it hard to believe that these guys are going to ride the pine the whole season.
Was that brief?
Ashton: Coach Ott doesn’t have any choice but to play a 10-man rotation, and I expect a lot of that will be on the starting five. Book, welcome to more minutes.
I am not sure if I want to give into the why, but this seems set to me.
Starting 4: Booker, Green, Brooks, and Bridges. No explanation needed.
Center: Who the heck knows, but KM and Oso are kept, so that is six out of the ten. Let’s see how they defend Wemby for the Suns pecking order in the upcoming preseason games.
Last four (like the NCAA tournament, who is in and who is out): Goodie, Kennard, and CG. That is a lot of guards! But CG has to be the first off the bench. And as my colleague, zenzino, on the Fantable once explained many episodes ago, you do not platoon out a second unit at once. Sheer did not impress me against the Bulls, but no way can I say Koa Peat, as he is too raw. Sheer gets the last spot on a ten-man rotation.
Leaving the rest at the end of the bench, waived, cut, etc. But I was not going to sit here and answer this question line by line with a brief description of who is left out. Did I cheat? Yes.
OldAz: This is a layup. 9 of the ones in the rotation are obvious: Book, Green, Bridges, Brooks, Oso, Gillespie, Maluach, Goodwin, and Kennard.
Maluach is all about needing a 2nd center among the top 9. If Williams were healthy, I think he would be forced to earn his minutes more than he will with Williams on the shelf. Goodwin will be a part of the rotation because of Ott’s defensive focus. Kennard is there because he is a vet who knows how to fit in. This leaves Dunn and Fleming fighting for that 10th spot, and IMO the winner and playing time for that 10th person will entirely be determined by what they bring on the defensive side of the ball.
I answered this one backwards, because, as I said in #1, it’s so early in preseason that I would actually have to do some research to even know who the options are beyond these 11. Highsmith? Duop? Bouyeah (more like Bou-“yuck” so far). I don’t see Koa or Chandler breaking into the rotation, even though I have liked what I have seen from each.
Rod: I can’t help but wonder if Ott’s 10-man rotation might not change from game to game. By that I mean, will it be the same 10 guys in the rotation for every game (health permitting)? Would his player rotation change in games against taller/longer teams vs games against smaller/speedier teams?
I think this team just has too much depth to keep the rotation down to 10 players, but this depth, in many cases, could allow Ott to sit/rest certain players with relatively minor injuries by using that depth to solidly fill the rotation vacated by said injured player. Like with Bridges’ “tweaked” ankle, Ott could just hold him out to be on the cautious side even if Bridges felt he could play and use the depth to compensate…while still only playing a 10-man rotation that night.
But that’s beside the point as far as this question is concerned.
In order to be brief, I’m just going to say I agree with what OldAz wrote about the Suns’ top 9 rotation players, and with his assessment that the 10th spot will come down to a choice between Dunn and Fleming. Pretty much no one else has much of a chance of making it into a 10-man rotation without an injury happening. But, as I said earlier, the Suns have such good depth that Ott could use that to give players with relatively minor injuries more time to heal up by using the ‘deep’ bench players in the rotation on certain nights.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Quotes of the Week
“I think we know what it takes to win. We’ve seen it in spurts. It’s just a matter of playing together for a full 48 minutes, putting it all together and just getting more time getting the reps in. I like what we have. I like where we’re at.” – Collin Gillespie
“I feel comfortable bringing the ball up, getting guys in the sets. I’m very comfortable with having the ball in my hands in general. As far making the right read, that is where my head is at right now. Get into the paint, draw two, make the right read.” – Jalen Green
Suns Trivia/History
On October 11, 2008, in a preseason match-up, Denver beat Phoenix 77-72 at the Indian Wells (California) Tennis Garden. The game is noteworthy because it was the first NBA game played outdoors in three decades.
On October 12, 1979, Don Buse made Suns history with Phoenix’s first-ever 3-pointer late in the first quarter of the 1979-80 season opener against Golden State. He made two in one minute, and Paul Westphal hit two in the 3rd quarter, each finishing 2-2 from three. Alvin Scott went 0-1, and Phoenix finished 4-5 on threes as the Suns beat Golden State 97-89 at home.
On October 16, 1969, 4-time All-Star Connie Hawkins made his NBA debut for the Phoenix Suns in a 116-114 win over the San Diego Rockets. The Hawk would lead a trio of 20+ ppg scorers for the Suns (Hawkins – 24.6, Dick Van Arsdale – 21.3 and Gail Goodrich – 20.0) to a 39-43 regular season record (23 wins better than their previous 16-66 record) and their first-ever trip to the NBA playoffs.
Important Future Dates
Oct. 14 – Suns @ Spurs (preseason) 5:00 PM Oct. 16 – Suns vs. Jazz (preseason) 7:00 PM Oct. 19 – All rosters set for NBA Opening Day (5 p.m. ET) Oct. 20 – 2026-27 NBA Season Begins Oct. 24 – NBA G League Draft Oct. 26 – NBA G League Training Camps open Oct. 30 – Emirates NBA Cup 2026 Group Play tips off Nov. 6 – NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament begins Dec. 15 – Most players signed to new contracts can be traded Jan. 5 – 10-day contracts may now be signed Jan. 10 – All NBA contracts are guaranteed for the remainder of the season Jan. 15 – All players signed to new contracts can be traded Feb. 11 – Trade Deadline Feb. 19-21 – NBA All-Star 2027 March 1 – Playoff Eligibility Waiver Deadline April 11 – 2026-27 Regular Season ends (All 30 teams play) April 12 – Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2027 (3 p.m. ET) April 13-16 – SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament April 17 – NBA Playoffs 2026 begin
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 22: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets poses for a photo during the Houston Rockets Media Day at Hilton Americas-Houston on September 22, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First off, happy belated birthday to the Easy Money Sniper, who turned 38 on September 29th. That’s certainly a ripe old age in the NBA. Durant was drafted in the 2007 draft, which feels like a different world entirely. There are a couple other 2007 draftees around besides Durant still in the NBA: Mike Conley, Al Horford. Uncle Jeff Green currently is unsigned, and the 28th pick, Tiago Splitter, is an NBA head coach.
This will mark Durant’s 20th season in the NBA, but in some ways it’s hard to tell. Here’s a sample of five Durant seasons, (chosen by rolling a 20 sided die except for one).
PTS
TRB
AST
FG%
FG3%
eFG%
TS%
GP
28.0
8
3.5
.496
.387
.547
.610
66
27.1
6.6
5.0
.523
.413
.581
.626
75
28.2
8.2
5.0
.505
.387
.573
.634
72
25.3
6.5
2.8
.476
.422
.510
.577
74
26
5.5
4.8
.520
.413
.588
.641
78
These are, again, four seasons chosen at random from Durant’s career, and in the last row, last season.
Row one is 2011-2012 (5th Season, OKC, Age 23)
Row two is 2023-2024 (17th Season, PHX, Age 35)
Row three is 2015-2016 (9th Season, OKC (last season), Age 27)
Row four is 2008-2009 (2nd Season, OKC, Age 20)
Row five is 2025-2026 (19th Season, HOU, Age 37)
Over two decades it’s hard to imagine a more consistently excellent offensive player. Other than injury plagued seasons, pretty much every Durant season is within this range, with his MVP season of 2013-2014 in OKC being better still. The point here being, you can really take any season, from almost any point, of Kevin Durant’s entire career, at it will be in line with the five seasons above. He’s just that consistently superb. I might go so far as to say the most consistently good shooter in NBA history.
Why is that important? Well, until we see evidence of a decline, why worry? It’s very hard to see much of any sign of it comparing Kevin Durant’s first season with the Rockets to any other (chosen at random) in his career. Fortunately we got early 20s, mid 20s, 30s season in that sample, and they’re all just excellent KD seasons. Combing through other stats, it’s hard to see signs of decline. I suppose his free throw rate has declined from his absolute offensive peak in his mid 20s, but not that much. His rebounds dropped a bit. His percentages, though, held fast.
So what should we expect from Kevin Durant? Until proven otherwise, more of the same.
Durant also made a point at Rockets Media Day that he wouldn’t like to see his minutes reduced. At first I thought this was annoying. Of course he should see his minutes reduced, wear and tear, and so forth. He’s 38. Looking at his career, looking at last season, I’ve changed my mind. He probably should play his career average minutes per game – about 36. Last season was 36.4, his career average is 36.7. What you see in his career, overall, is that he goes down for fairly catastrophic, traumatic, or one off, injuries, and otherwise he plays about 75 games a season. Why tamper with it? The Rockets aren’t depending on five to eight more years of KD. He went out injured for the playoffs, but I’m far from sure that was some reflection of playing a lot of minutes in the regular season, because he usually does that, even when plays a lot of playoff minutes as well. He did fairly recently in Phoenix.
I think, also, that Durant, if he doesn’t get these minutes, will become more of an irritant for the team than merely the fallout from a possible burner social media account, slagging off teammates, and the way the Rockets play. I believe Kevin Durant wants to climb further up the ladder of all time scoring. He’s not going to get the counting stats he needs to do that without playing a lot of games, and playing a lot of minutes. So I think he will do both, if he is at all able to do so.
Watching Durant closely for a season though, made me reconsider one of the main media talking points regarding KD. Namely “Durant fits anywhere, in any system.” I don’t quite see it that way anymore. Instead of viewing KD as fluidly blending with his teammates, I see more of a player who is almost entirely self-contained. That doesn’t mean he won’t play with the team, but more that he doesn’t really need anything more from them than the ball. Actions would be nice, screens would help, timely passing is good. But does KD absolutely require it? Not at all.
I now see him more as the famous soloist who comes to play with a symphony or other ensemble. You’ve brought in the world renown violinist, and everyone wants to see the fireworks show. He’ll work with the orchestra, of course he will, but he’s the star for that program, not your resident first chair. Does he deliver? Yes, I think he does. Anywhere, and everywhere. It’s not exactly your hometown orchestra anymore, but it’s definitely impressive stuff.
Does he love what he does? Obviously so. The passion, dedication, talent and artistry are all clearly there, even now. Does he love playing for you, your town, though? Certainly. Inasmuch as he loves playing. But you are no more or less special than anyone else who can pay his wage, and let him practice his craft. He’s won all the awards, and prizes, now he just wants his output to be something maybe two or three players all time can match. To be an elite of the elite.
Like that famous soloist, though, he’s happy enough to pack up the fiddle and move on. And like that stereotypical virtuoso, he’s temperamental, egotistical, and not especially cognizant of lesser talents around him. There’s nothing quite like him, but strangely, there don’t seem to be many tears shed when he moves on to the next gig.
I think Kevin Durant will have another virtuoso Kevin Durant season, and will thankfully not attempt to initiate the offense. The fact that there isn’t much conducting going on with the offense matters not at all to KD. He doesn’t need it. He never has.
With 11 days until the 2026-27 regular-season opener and nine until the NBA’s rookie contract extension deadline, Brandin Podziemski and the Warriors came to terms Saturday morning on a new deal that should make both sides happy.
Podziemski and the Warriors landed on a five-year, $110 million contract extension, Podziemski’s agent Bill Duffy told ESPN’s Shams Charania. The contract is fully guaranteed and has a mutual option in the final season and a trade kicker, per ESPN’s Anthony Slater. The mutual option allows both sides to opt in, not out, for the 2031-32 season.
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy said at the end of last season and throughout the offseason that he wanted to reach an agreement and avoid restricted free agency. Podziemski was on the same page and has learned from experience seeing how two young Warriors went through much different routes.
Moses Moody signed a three-year, $39 million extension right at his deadline two years ago. That same offseason, the Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga couldn’t come to terms. The two sides then went through an ugly restricted free agency. Kuminga was dealt to the Atlanta Hawks at last season’s trade deadline and signed a two-year, $12.4 million contract to join the Minnesota Timberwolves in late August.
“I think both seeing him and Moses do two different things for me helped, just seeing the goods and bads to both sides,” Podziemski said in April. “I don’t think one is better than the other, but seeing that as a teammate and seeing how they handled both situations, I think is going to help me.”
The contract that Podziemski signed is far greater than any dollar amounts Kuminga and Moody have seen in their careers. Kuminga and Moody were taken in the lottery of the 2021 NBA draft when Bob Myers still was general manager and the Warriors were in a different position. Podziemski was taken with the No. 19 pick two years later in Dunleavy’s first draft as GM, and he has played well above his slot ever since.
Fans were going to be loud about Podziemski’s next contract no matter what the final numbers finished at. That’s their prerogative. Those also are feelings of opinions much more than facts.
While others like Brandon Miller continue to wait, several players from the 2023 draft class have signed extensions this offseason. Victor Wembanyama (five years, $255.2 million), Amen Thompson (five years, $208 million), Ausar Thompson (five years, $155 million) and Keyonte George (five years, $155 million) are all players picked ahead of Podziemski in the 2023 draft who have jumped into a pile of cash the last few months. Podziemski wasn’t going to reach those numbers, but nobody should be surprised that he was given nine figures.
When assessing what Podziemski was going to sign for, there were two recent contracts to look at: Peyton Watson’s four-year, $88 million deal and Ayo Dosunmu’s five-year, $112 million contract. Podziemski’s average annual value of his contract evens out to the same $22 million as Watson’s and comes in just shy of Dosunmu’s total.
The Timberwolves signed Dosunmu in July following his fifth year in which he averaged 14.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game between them and the Chicago Bulls, shooting 51.7 percent from the field and 43.9 percent from three. Podziemski is entering his fourth year and in Year 3 averaged 13.8 points (a career high), 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from three.
But the Warriors saw Podziemski scale-up in the absences of Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler last season, and then performed admirably in the play-in tournament. Podziemski from the start of March to the end of the regular season regularly was often guarded by the opponent’s best defender and averaged 18.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from three over a 22-game span.
He scored 17 points and had seven rebounds in the Warriors’ play-in win against the LA Clippers, and then had a team high in points (23) and rebounds (10) two days later in Phoenix.
Podziemski was one of 18 players in the NBA to play all 82 games last season. He has consistently been one of the best rebounding guards in the league since the start of his career and finishes in the top three of charges taken every year. Podziemski led the Warriors in plus/minus as a rookie, was third in his second season and seventh last year in the team’s injury-filled season. He has the second-highest total plus/minus on the Warriors over the last three seasons.
Among his draft class, Podziemski ranks fourth in total win shares (13.4) and fifth in VORP (3.4).
Signing Podziemski now does continue to cut into the Warriors’ salary cap space next offseason after also signing Curry to an extension, but it’s far from detrimental. Podziemski’s extension only counts as roughly 11 percent of the projected year-to-year salary cap. From a value perspective, Podziemski continues to be a Warriors win.
The Warriors are betting on continued growth of someone who remains the youngest player on the 15-man roster going into his fourth season, and he has shown all the signs to earn their trust. It’s good business for the Warriors in keeping a good, impactful player, concurrently maintaining financial flexibility in the future.
SAN ANTONIO, TX -OCTOBER 8: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates a basket against Atlanta Hawks in the first half of the preseason game at Frost Bank Center on October 8, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This article is for those of you who hesitate to mess with technological changes in their life. And I mean the “I still have CDs and won’t download music apps” people. The “I have and iPhone 8 that is so old it has to live on a charger and it refuses to updates” types, this is for you. I’m talking to the “I maxed out my cloud but rather spend hours deleting my old photos and videos than pay $7” version of an adult. I will die on my mountain of technology that became outdated but I simply could not let it go and it piled up….literally.
For you I say — DAZN was not as harsh a transition as I made it out to be in my head. You’d have thought I was buying a car for how long I spent attempting to research. In the end it was simple. I downloaded an app, chose Spurs, signed up a free week-long trial (I think I literally said “that’s where they get you” and realized (a) I really am becoming the best/worst old man version of myself, and (b) I was talking out loud to no one), and then chose a plan. Immediately I had access to some Spurs content that had been uploaded — mostly the 50th anniversary “Ring of the Rowel” series and Summer League highlights.
I watched Thursday night’s preseason game on the app. Again, it was easy to navigate. Due to some family plans, I didn’t start the game after it after aired. Jacob Tobey and Sean Elliott were the hosts, so not too much changed. There was no pregame or postgame and I am curious if this is just during preseason or if those will eventually be added to the DAZN content.
One criticism. When I went to watch the game, the screen that takes you to the game reveals the score. Personally, I prefer not to know the outcome before I watch.
There is a cost, which for me is always a hesitation. But honestly, it gave me some time to reevaluate and cancel some other subscriptions. Which of course distracted from my time deleting old photos and videos to free up room in the cloud.
Speaking of, I better get back to work.
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 08: James Wiseman #35 of the New York Knicks looks to pass as Felix Okpara #34 of the Washington Wizards defends during the second half at Madison Square Garden on October 08, 2026 in New York City. The Wizards won 111-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Knicks are back to playing basketball and are less than two weeks away from opening night. They’ve started 0-2, which nobody really cares about, but we’ve also now seen enough minutes from the exhibition matches to get a glimpse of who the winners and losers have been in the early portion of the preseason.
Winner: Jalen Brunson and his wrist
Should anyone have really doubted or even been remotely worried about Brunson’s offseason wrist surgery? No, the captain has repeatedly been the definition of reliable. So it was ridiculous to ever think that Brunson wouldn’t be prepared or would look off coming off of his injury. But fans are unreasonable. And also, he is a 30 year-old who had an operation on his shooting hand.
Fortunately for Knicks fans, though, he’s looked as good as any other Knicks. His three-point shot was off against the Wizards as he went just 1-for-6. But Brunson looks like he’s in midseason form. He’s taking his usual shots, which include, but aren’t limited to, driving layups, floaters, mid-range fadeaways, and pull-up threes, and he’s looked comfortable and confident in doing so. Defensively, he’s started the preseason giving good effort, and he’s already drawn multiple charges as well. Brunson and his wrist seem to be doing just fine.
Loser: Pacome Dadiet and his trade value
Coming into training camp and preseason, there couldn’t have been many expectations for Dadiet. He’s now had two full seasons of pretty much being non-existent. His Summer League left a lot to be desired. And he played worse than most fans could’ve imagined during the World Cup qualifiers for the Ivory Coast team. Yet even after all that, he’s found a way to disappoint so far in preseason. In the preseason opener, the team was clearly trying to give him an opportunity to either increase his trade value or at least win some spot minutes, and he failed to do that. And he wasn’t much better in game two against the Wizards.
It’s only been two games, but they’ve both been a failure for Dadiet. He’s scored just nine total points in 30 minutes of play and is shooting just 28.6% from the field without standing out as a playmaker, rebounder, or defender. Dadiet’s path to being a rotation player in New York was pretty thin to begin with. But whatever opportunity he had to at least help the team out by increasing his trade value may be slipping away now too.
Winner: Landry Shamet
Shamet is coming off of two straight training camps where his job wasn’t even guaranteed. He’s battled back from injuries and has consistently displayed a perfect balance of selflessness and staying ready. That led to him becoming an integral part of the Knicks’ rotation last year. And he was rewarded with a very nice four-year, $24 million contract. Shamet rewarded the Knicks and their loyalty by reportedly turning down offers from other contenders.
Now back with the same team for the third straight year-something he’s never done before in his career-the journeyman looks comfortable and confident. He looks poised to not just continue what he’s done but build upon it and has gotten off to an extremely hot start in preseason. He’s averaging 11.5PPG in just 13.5MPG and is shooting an extremely hot 53.3% from the field and 50% from three.
Loser: Miles McBride
The talk around McBride for much of the offseason has been about what the Knicks could get in a trade for him. And after the offensive struggles he went through in the Finals, there are some fans who may have forgotten just how good and valuable the reserve guard is. He’s still one of the best bench perimeter defenders in the league, and that, combined with his much improved three-point shooting, makes him so pivotal to what Mike Brown and the Knicks want to do. And nobody should be overly concerned about what he does or doesn’t do in the preseason.
That being said, he’s currently struggling mightily offensively. McBride has so far averaged just 3PPG on 18.2% shooting from the field and 11.1% shooting from three. There were some expectations that he’d showcase a little more after a full offseason to work on some of his weaknesses that got exposed against the Spurs. And fans were excited to see him fully healthy after he revealed that he was still hurt throughout the postseason run. He should be fine eventually, but it’s been a rough go for McBride so far.
Winner: Andre Drummond
Many fans had different reactions when Drummond signed with the Knicks this past summer. Some were excited, some were indifferent, and some were disappointed. New York still has a very long season ahead of them, and that should come with opportunities to upgrade at this position one way or another. And during said long season, Drummond will inevitably go through ups and downs. But so far, the veteran center has looked solid.
His pick-and-roll defense, something many were concerned about, has actually looked good. He’s been very active with his hands, and his defense there, especially when paired up with the also active Jose Alvarado, could be a fun tandem. Drummond’s finishing ability is concerning due to his lack of explosiveness. But his surprisingly solid defense, along with his elite-as-advertised rebounding, has been fun to watch.
Losers: Drew Eubanks, Ochai Agbaji, and Tony Bradley
Bruce Brown Jr. was looked at as one of the favorites to win the Knicks’ last roster spot given the team’s previous interest in him. Other than that, there really wasn’t a consensus. Some wanted James Wiseman for his potential. Others wanted Eubanks for his defense, passing, and experience. Others wanted Agbaji for… not really sure why.
Two games into preseason, it looks clear who Brown and the Knicks have the most interest in. Brown, Wiseman, and Jaden Akins are the only three of the training camp invitees to play in both games. On Thursday night against the Wizards, Eubanks, Agbaji, and Bradley were DNPs. Now, this may just be the way they are splitting up the minutes, and maybe those guys see minutes over Brown and Wiseman when they play the Timberwolves on Monday. Brown, although not overly impressive, has looked solid. And Wiseman, especially against the 76ers, looked good. Neither is locked in to make the roster just yet. But it seems like they are a head above Eubanks, Agbaji, and Bradley.
