Report: Warriors Didn’t Offer Brandin Podziemski Or Jonathan Kuminga For Paul George Or Lauri Markkanen

According to NBA reporter Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Golden State Warriors didn’t offer Brandin Podziemski or Jonathan Kuminga for Paul George or Lauri Markkanen.

George wound up declining his 2024-25 player option with the Los Angeles Clippers and signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, while Markkanen signed an extension with the Utah Jazz. 

“The Warriors were heavily interested in George prior to him opting out of his contract with the Clippers, league sources told ClutchPoints. In fact, a deal was proposed to the Clippers that didn’t include either Kuminga or Podziemski, two of the Warriors’ high-potential young talents,” Siegel reported. “While Los Angeles did not want to lose George for nothing in free agency, they also didn’t hold much desire to trade him to a rival in the same division for anything less than maximum value. Kuminga was a player the Clippers wanted in a potential trade for George, which is why talks froze and the nine-time All-Star now resides on the 76ers’ roster.

“In order for Utah to even have interest in discussing this scenario with Golden State, Podziemski, sources said, had to be included in the package. This is something the Warriors weren’t even willing to entertain, and the same thought process remained for Kuminga, whom the organization held out of conversations for George.”

Golden State lost Klay Thompson to the Dallas Mavericks in free agency and added Buddy Hield, Kyle Anderson and De’Anthony Melton.

The Warriors missed the playoffs last season. They lost the 9-10 play-in game to the Sacramento Kings. 

Podziemski averaged 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.2 blocks this past season for the Warriors while shooting 45.4% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 63.3% from the free-throw line. 

Golden State drafted Podziemski with the 19th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft out of Santa Clara. 

Kuminga put up 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks per game for the Warriors in 2023-24 while shooting 52.9% from the field, 32.1% from 3 and 74.6% from the foul line. 

The Dubs drafted Kuminga with the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Kuminga won the 2022 title with Golden State over the Boston Celtics.