Warriors Hold Firm: Podz Remains off the Table in Markkanen Trade Discussions

Report: Warriors remain hesitant to include Podz in potential Markkanen trade according to sources familiar with the situation Despite ongoing discussions with the Chicago Bulls about a potential trade involving Lauri Markkanen, the Golden State Warriors are reportedly still unwilling to part ways with rising star Jonathan Kuminga. Sources close to the situation have indicated that the Warriors are hesitant to include Moses Moody or Jonathan Kuminga in any potential deal for Markkanen. The Warriors' reluctance to part with their young talent like Kuminga or Moody showcases their commitment to building for the future while also trying to remain competitive in the present. Markkanen, a talented forward, could provide the Warriors with additional scoring and shooting, but it seems that the team is not willing to sacrifice their promising prospects to bring him in. As trade talks continue to evolve, it remains to be seen whether the Warriors will ultimately change their stance on including Podz in a potential deal for Markkanen. For now, it seems that the team is intent on holding onto their young talent and continuing to develop their promising core for the future.

The Warriors appear persistent when it comes to a trade for Jazz star Lauri Markkanen, but Golden State reportedly refuses to budge on one player coveted by Utah.

The Warriors still are regarded as the NBA's "most ardent" Markkanen suitor, though they remain unwilling to deal second-year guard Brandin Podziemski in a potential package for the All-Star, NBA insider Marc Stein reported Sunday in his latest Substack.

"Golden State, to date, had pursued Markkanen without including Podziemski or Jonathan Kuminga in trade packages laden with future draft compensation," Stein wrote. "Obviously no team, to this point, has met [Jazz CEO of basketball operations] Danny Ainge's asking price."

The Warriors certainly think highly of Podziemski. Coach Steve Kerr had difficulty keeping him off the floor during the 21-year-old's rookie season, and owner Joe Lacob recently described him as a "future All-Star." The former first-round draft pick averaged 26.6 minutes per game during the 2023-24 NBA season -- a rarity for a youngster in Kerr's lineup.

But despite all the trade buzz surrounding him, Podziemski remains unfazed.

"It's very fun for me actually. I love it," Podziemski said during "The Dinner Table" podcast published July 25. "It's cool to see different things every day -- people's comments, and if I should be [traded] or shouldn't be.

"For me, from a basketball perspective, social media aside, I try to put that away and just work on what I can control right now."

The Warriors, meanwhile, could use a player of Markkanen's caliber as they seek another NBA championship during the tail end of Steph Curry's legendary career. But time for a trade is running out, as Markkanen becomes trade eligible Tuesday, Aug. 6 -- and with the Jazz facilitating training sessions for the star forward in his home country of Finland, "more than one rival team" consulted by Stein agreed that it "just got harder to see Utah abruptly turning around and trading him."

It seems Dub Nation should get used to the idea of Podziemski remaining a Warrior, though the weeks-long Markkanen trade saga will be resolved for good in the coming days.

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