Category: Warriors

Warriors could have two All-Rookie selections

The Golden State Warriors could see both Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis be named to an All-Rookie team.

Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis enjoyed stellar rookie seasons for the Golden State Warriors. Both young players experienced some time in the starting lineup. Jackson-Davis developed a reliable partnership with Draymond Green in the frontcourt. Podziemski earned the praise of Steph Curry. 

During a recent interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Podziemski revealed he expects both himself and Jackson-Davis to make an All-Rookie team this year. He believes he will be a first-team selection, and Jackson-Davis should be first or second team. Both rookies made an impact on Steve Kerr’s roster.

“Every week I see NBA.com’s rookie ladder,” Podziemski said. “To see both of our names in the top-10 list is super fulfilling. But, I think in a much broader perspective, if you could re-draft, you wouldn’t take me 19 and you wouldn’t take him 57. So, we’ve made our impact. … I think we’re the best rookie duo in the league.”

Both Podziemski and Jackson-Davis project to have bright futures with the Warriors. It’s also likely they will have bigger roles within the rotation in the coming years: a jump in minutes could potentially happen next season,

It will be interesting to see if both rookies are rewarded for their strong debut seasons by being named to an All-Rookie team. Regardless of what happens, they will certainly be rewarded for their performances once the next season gets underway.

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Watch: Steph Curry joins Inside The NBA after latest award

The Golden State Warriors superstar appeared on TNT’s Inside the NBA after being named the 2024 Clutch Player of the Year.

Steph Curry has won the 2024 Clutch Player of the Year award. The 36-year-old superstar led the NBA in multiple clutch categories and beat some stern competition en route to his latest individual accolade.

Following the announcement of his latest award, Curry appeared on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” to discuss what it means to him.

During his time on the show, he also revealed he expects there to be some tweaks to the Warriors rotation ahead of next season.

“We’re not that far off, even having tried to stay at this level and at this peak for so long,” Curry said. “There’s going to be some tweaks, we know. When you lose, you have to look yourself in the mirror and say ‘What can we do to get better, what holes can we fill.’ Thankfully, we have some time to figure that out.”

Curry will travel with Team USA to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics during the summer. He will then be back with the Warriors as they look to compete for the 2025 NBA championship.

You can watch Curry’s full appearance on “Inside the NBA” by clicking the embedded link above.

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7-foot All-Star floated as ideal trade target for Warriors

Lauri Markkanen would be an ideal addition to the Golden State Warriors roster.

The Golden State Warriors are expected to make significant changes during the offseason.

Steve Kerr’s team struggled throughout the season; multiple members of the rotation underperformed. The team’s championship core is aging. The younger contingent of talent is knocking on the door for bigger opportunities. And the roster is incredibly expensive.

As such, the Warriors could look very different when they take the court to begin their 2024-25 season. According to Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale, the front office should look at adding Lauri Markkanen as part of the rebuilding efforts to maximize the final years of Steph Curry’s career.

“Pairing Markkanen with Curry, Green, a re-signed Thompson and, let’s say, Kuminga doesn’t guarantee Golden State reentry into the title discussion,” Favale wrote. “They probably need a higher-level self-creator who’s taller than miniature. But Markkanen can make the Warriors huge up front and just wrapped his second season in which he averaged north of 23 points per game while knocking down more than 55 percent of his twos and 39 percent of his threes.”

The Warriors lacked legitimate size in the frontcourt this season. They often found themselves playing a small-ball lineup, with their tallest players measuring in at 6-foot-10. Markkanen would fit Golden State’s mold of having size and skill. He shot 39.9% from 3-point range this season, so his presence wouldn’t affect the spacing Kerr likes his team to deploy.
Markkanen has emerged as the Utah Jazz’s star player. He wouldn’t be easy to obtain in a trade. It would almost certainly cost Golden State some of their younger talents. However, his size, skill and age (26) would provide the Warriors with a genuine bridge between the veteran talents and the young core. He would be an ideal addition.
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Brandin Podziemski believes he should make All-Rookie first team

Brandin Podziemski wants to make All-Rookie First Team after an impressive debut season in the NBA.

Brandin Podziemski was drafted with the 19th pick in the 2023 NBA draft. He quickly established himself as part of the Golden State Warriors’ rotation, making 74 appearances in his debut season. Twenty-eight of those appearances were starts as Steve Kerr rewarded the 6-foot-5 wing for his impressive displays and veteran-like approach to the game.

During a recent interview with NBC Sports Bay Area, Podzeimski shared his belief he belongs on the All-Rookie first team this season. He pointed to the positive impact he’s made on the court and how he could have produced higher numbers if he were in a similar situation to some of the other rookies around the NBA.

“I don’t know how they look at it – if it’s numbers based, if it’s wins based, if you’re impacting the team,” Podziemski said. “All in all, if you look at the top-five rookies I think I’m in that category, just based on what I bring on a daily basis, who I have around me, what kind of team I’m playing on, my usages. Because I feel like If I was in some of the other rookie’s situations … I’m still putting up more numbers, too.”

Podziemski ended his rookie season with averages of 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 45.4% from the field and 38.5% from 3-point range. He also overcame stern competition for minutes on a roster full of veteran talent with hopes of contending for a championship.

In reality, being named to the All-Rookie first team wouldn’t change much for Podziemski. He’s already expected to have a bigger role in the Warriors’ rotation next season, and he’s established himself as part of the franchise’s young core for the future. Nevertheless, the recognition would prove what Golden State fans already know: He was a genuine steal in the draft.

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Steph Curry wins NBA’s 2024 Clutch Player Award

Steph Curry has been named as the 2024 Clutch Play of the Year.

Steph Curry was named the winner of the 2024 Clutch Player of the Year award. The Golden State Warriors superstar earned the honor after leading the NBA in multiple clutch categories such as points and 3-point shots made and converting 95.1% of his attempts from the free-throw line.

Curry beat some stern competition to win. DeMar DeRozan finished second, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came in third and Nikola Jokic was a distant fourth. Curry received 45 first-place votes, 18 second-place votes and 19 third-place votes, giving him 298 points, 26 more than DeRozan.

Despite his heroics in the clutch, the Warriors were unable to make the 2024 playoffs. Curry undoubtedly hopes his team can improve its fortunes next season so it can continue challenging for a championship.

Nevertheless, Curry’s latest award proves that he’s still among the most dangerous players in the league with the ball in his hands, especially when the game is on the line.

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Warriors land Arizona Wildcats forward in second round of NBA mock draft

Larsson averaged 12.8 points on 51.9% shooting with 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 36 games with the Arizona Wildcats last season.

While the NFL draft is taking center stage in the sports world this week, it’s never too early to look ahead to the NBA draft. With the Golden State Warriors’ 2023-24 season already wrapped up, Steve Kerr and Mike Dunleavy Jr. will have extra time to prepare for June’s draft.

Despite having a head start on draft preparation, the Warriors still have only one second-round pick in the back half of the second round, although that could change when the offseason gets underway.

In the latest NBA mock draft from Sports Illustrated’s Draft Digest, the Warriors added a forward from the Arizona Wildcats in the second round. With the No. 53 pick in the mock draft, Draft Digest sent Arizona’s Pelle Larsson to the Warriors.

Read the full mock draft via Sports Illustrated’s Draft Digest here.

The Swedish 23-year-old played two seasons in the Pac-12, one season with the Utah Utes and one season with the Arizona Wildcats. On the way to earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors, Larsson averaged 12.8 points on 51.9% shooting from the field with 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 36 games.

Larsson notched a season-high 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field to go along with eight assists and seven boards in a win against his former team, Utah. Larsson scored 21 of more points in four different games in his final season in Tuscon.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and X! 

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Warriors land Tristen Newton in latest mock draft

The Golden State Warriors land the 22-year-old guard out of Connecticut in the latest mock draft.

The Golden State Warriors will likely enter the 2024 NBA draft with one second-round pick unless their first-round pick winds up in the top four, which is highly unlikely. As such, Golden State’s ability to add talent via this year’s draft appears to be limited.

Nevertheless, there’s always an opportunity to snag an underrated talent late in the second round. In the latest mock draft by Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report, the Warriors are projected to take 22-year-old senior Tristen Newton out of Connecticut. The 6-foot-5 guard is known for his versatility and winning playstyle. Those are the kind of intangible the Warriors often look for in late-round draft picks.

“The Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player was Connecticut’s engine during its win over Purdue, finishing with 20 points, seven assists, five boards and zero turnovers,” Wasserman wrote. “He’s ultimately showcased enough shotmaking, passing and tough finishing for teams to take a chance on an older player who might not pass the eye test.”

If drafted by the Warriors, Newton would likely sign a two-way contract with the franchise and would be set to spend significant time with the Santa Cruz Warriors. Nevertheless, Steve Kerr has shown a willingness to give two-way talent opportunities to impress, with Lester Quinones being the latest example.

Whoever the Warriors add with their late second-round pick is unlikely to move the needle for the coming season. Nevertheless, it never hurts to add new cost-controlled talent, especially when you’re adding them to a developmental system that has proven successful in the past. Newton would be finding himself in a great program, although that may not be enough for him to crack Golden State’s rotation.

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Moses Moody could replace Klay Thompson in Warriors’ starting lineup

Moses Moody could potentially replace Klay Thompson in the Golden State Warriors starting lineup next season.

Klay Thompson is entering unrestricted free agency. The Golden State Warriors are widely expected to re-sign the veteran sharpshooter. Earlier this season, Thompson had a stretch of games in which he came off the Warriors bench as Steve Kerr looked to find a balance within his rotation.

Thompson could find himself occupying a bench role more consistently next season, with Moses Moody replacing him in the starting lineup. Moody has been patiently waiting for a bigger role within the Warriors rotation over the past couple of years.

“It could very well be somebody on the roster,” Kerr said. “I think our young guys are going to continue to get better. For a while we started Brandin (Podziemski) instead of Klay. So that’s a possibility. Maybe Moses moves into the starting lineup. … He’s a really good player, and he’s a young player who still has a lot of room for growth. Decision-making at both ends needs to improve. Quicker decisions. Quicker rotations defensively. Recognition of patterns.”

The Warriors boast several talented young players ready for bigger roles. Moody is among that contingent. With Thompson showing upside as a bench scorer, it could make sense for Kerr to make that role permanent, should the veteran remain in the Bay Area.

Moody, 21, could thrive in a more prominent role for Golden State, especially if he’s sharing the court with some of the team’s more experienced veterans. Whether Thompson would be willing to re-sign for a bench role will remain to be seen.

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Proposed trade lands Warriors dominant rim-runner

The proposed trade would send the rim-runner to the Golden State Warriors in a deal headlined by Andrew Wiggins.

The Golden State Warriors have lacked size this season. They opted against adding Dwight Howard during the preseason and often found themselves utilizing undersized bigs in the middle of the floor. Adding height around the rim will likely be a focus for the front office in the coming months.

According to Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley, the Warriors could have some success by opening talks with the Cleveland Cavaliers about a potential trade for Jarrett Allen. The athletic rim-runner is impressing for the Cavaliers in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs and has proven a dominant rebounder and lob threat.

The proposed trade looks like this:

Warriors get: Jarrett Allen

Cavaliers get: Andrew Wiggins, Trayce Jackson-Davis, future draft stock

“He could be the anchor who gets the defense back on track and the automatic lob finisher who ups the potency of this attack,” Buckley wrote. “To flesh out the deal, the Warriors could also add Georges Niang, whose three-point shooting and quick processing skills should make him a snug schematic fit.”

Allen would give the Warriors an athletic rim-runner who could thrive in a fast-paced offense alongside Jonathan Kuminga in the front court. Draymond Green would be the glue that held everything together and marshaled the defense.

Steph Curry’s genius and exceptional shooting ability would ensure Allen had enough space when rolling to the basket. Nevertheless, the Cavaliers are unlikely to part with Allen in the summer. He has become a core part of the team’s rotation. Still, he is the prototypical player Golden State should be looking for if they bid to bring in additional size in the summer.

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Chris Paul’s future could lie away from the Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors may choose not to bring Chris Paul back next season.

The Golden State Warriors acquired Chris Paul as part of the trade that sent Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards. He played 58 games for Steve Kerr’s team this season, averaging 9.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.8 assists on 44.1% shooting from the field and 37.1% shooting from the perimeter.

Paul has a team option on his contract for next season worth $30 million. The Warriors are expected to decline that option, which would allow the veteran ball-handler to enter unrestricted free agency in the summer. According to Kurt Helin of NBC Sports, the Warriors could decide not to bring the veteran guard back next season.

“It’s highly unlikely Chris Paul will be back with the Warriors next season,” Helin wrote. “It’s not that Steve Kerr or anyone else is unhappy with his play — this was the best Golden State’s non-Curry minutes have been in years, and much of that was thanks to Paul. It’s just a financial situation where the Warriors are trying to cut back on their steep tax bill, and another team will likely offer CP3 more money than the Warriors want to pay their backup point guard.”

The Warriors could prefer to continue developing some of their younger talent rather than bring Paul back for a second season with the team. Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody could benefit from additional on-ball reps, and Paul’s departure would undoubtedly open those.

The Warriors have some tough decisions to make during the summer. Whether to bring Paul back will be one of them.

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