New Warriors Rumors on Kristaps Porzingis, Brandin Podziemski Contracts Talks Before NBA Free Agency

As they regroup following a disappointing 2025-26 NBA season, the Golden State Warriors are aiming to lock down guard Brandin Podziemski and center Kristaps Porziņģis for the long term, according to The Athletic's Nick Friedell and Marcus Thompson II.

On Porziņģis, the Warriors insiders wrote the team would like to keep him around, and the interest there is mutual. However, they could be limited in how much they can offer should they pass the first apron of the luxury tax.

Podziemski is eligible to sign an extension this offseason. Friedell and Thompson reported Saturday that "conversations would likely begin during the summer to bring back a player who has continued to get better."

The Warriors didn't get a full picture as to how Porziņģis could fit with franchise centerpiece Stephen Curry offensively.

The veteran big man only made 15 appearances following his midseason trade to Golden State. He averaged 16.1 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 31.1 percent from beyond the arc.

Kristaps Porziņģis with the Dunk

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Still, a contender knows what it's getting with Porziņģis. He's a good secondary scorer and rebounder, and his inefficient shooting in the second half is likely more of a blip instead of a larger trend.

Because of his skill set, Porziņģis may get interest from playoff aspirants around the NBA. A bidding war could make it tricky for the Warriors to bring him back.

There are no such concerns with Podziemski. Beyond the fact he's signed for one more season, he'll be a restricted free agent when he hits the market in 2027.

Still, Friedell and Thompson described the 6'4" playmaker as a "polarizing" in the same vein as Jonathan Kuminga.

Podziemski's scoring average (13.8) was a career high, and he matched his personal best in assists (3.7) and steals (1.1). In general, he has steadily improved across his first three seasons without taking a big leap forward in his game.

That last thing perhaps helps to explain why he has been a bit of a lightning rod among Warriors fans. His skeptics seemingly believe he's more valuable as a trade asset rather than a regular part of the rotation.

With Kuminga, signing him to a contract ultimately did little to change his situation in Golden State. It didn't take long for both parties to realize he needed a change of scenery.

Re-signing Podziemski wouldn't preclude the Warriors from trading him down the road. Getting together an agreement a year out from his free agency would be a firmer short-term commitment in comparison to how the Kuminga saga played out, though.