The Golden State Warriors made waves on Sunday with a blockbuster trade that has fans talking. Dennis Schroder is now headed to the Bay Area, and the excitement is going through the roof. Even Stephen Curry jumped in on the hype, showing his approval with a quick Instagram post. But not every trade comes without a cost. The Warriors’ move to bring in the Nets star might seem like a hit to Brandin Podziemski’s developing role, however, it could actually help him in the long run.

But Mike Dunleavy certainly seems to have made up his mind. With the trade deadline approaching Podz’s future at Golden State was in peril for obvious reasons. Dunleavy broke down the reasoning behind this trade, saying it benefits both Podziemski and Curry!

“I think this move, for both him and Steph [Curry], is something we view as additive and helps them,” Dunleavy said. “Brandin was really, really good last year, and I think part of it was having Steph and CP [Chris Paul], two other handlers, alongside him. And so I think this move enables Brandin and Steph to always be on the court with another handler. Whether it’s the two of them or Dennis and Brandin or Dennis and Steph. So, I think it makes a lot of sense. Again, I think this is something that helps and boosts Brandin.”

In simpler terms, Golden State wants to keep another playmaker on the floor at all times. Whether it’s Curry, Schroder, or Podziemski, someone will always be there to run the offense. That setup worked wonders for Brandin last year, and Dunleavy seems confident it’ll help him bounce back this season. It’s all about giving these guys the tools to thrive.

Podziemski’s offensive slump has only gotten worse, though. GSW dropped their eighth game in 10 tries on Sunday, losing 143-133, and the young gun struggled, sinking just one of his five shots. His shooting percentage now sits at 37.6%, one of the worst in the league for players with over 150 attempts. From three? He’s connecting on only 25%.

It wasn’t always this rough.

During his rookie season, Podziemski often shared the court with Curry and Paul—two legends. Playing alongside them, he posted solid stats: 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. He also shot a respectable 45.4% from the field and 38.5% from deep in 74 games, starting 28 of them.

Right now, though, that version of Podziemski feels like a highlight reel from the past… It’s hard not to wonder what it’ll take for him to get back on track—or if he can at all.

Brandin Podziemski will see a drop in minutes

The Golden State Warriors aren’t slowing down with their adjustments, even after their latest trade. Head coach Steve Kerr has made some changes to the rotation, and it looks like Brandin Podziemski and Buddy Hield will see their minutes cut. According to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, GSW believes Dennis Schröder’s addition brings much-needed depth to the backcourt.

The incoming star will take on a bigger role as both a scorer and playmaker, running the offense when Steph Curry sits while also fitting alongside him in certain lineups thanks to his defensive tenacity. Podz’s recent struggles haven’t gone unnoticed, and Kerr has been vocal about it. After a tough 119-115 loss to the Nuggets, Kerr didn’t hold back when discussing the 21-year-old’s performance.

“Podz is a hell of a player, but he needs to, and I’ve told him this, he needs to be a smart player,” Kerr said. “He cannot be that guy. And he cannot foul jump shooters.”

The boss’ message is clear: Podziemski has the talent, but poor decisions are holding him back.

With Schroder stepping in and Hield also seeing reduced minutes, the focus shifts to how these tweaks will impact the Warriors’ rhythm and chemistry moving forward. Can Kerr’s plan spark the team’s push for another deep playoff run? How will this affect the Santa Clara alum, currently going through a ‘sophomore slump’? Let us know your thoughts below.