The Golden State Warriors having fragments of their dynasty in place sidelines talks about their future. But at this juncture, those conversations have to start. Stephen Curry isn’t going to be there forever. At one point, it seemed Brandin Podziemski, a gutsy and versatile guard, could be the Warriors’ token for their future. But three years in, some wonder whether that promise could be trusted.

Podziemski has Steve Kerr on his side. The Warriors head coach has raved about the third-year guard having a high ceiling. But Monte Poole wonders whether the 22-year-old will still be favored if Kerr departs after this season. The Warriors analyst feels the dynamic around the young guard’s job security could completely shift.

“I think there should be a spotlight on Brandin too, just to see, okay, where does he fit in this NBA? Is he a starter? Is he a top eight rotation player? Or is he on a good team… He’s not starting. He’s sometimes not finishing. So they need to figure out where he fits in their future. The sooner they can do that, I think the better off they are,” Poole asked on Dubs Talk.

Podziemski is locked into a team option for next season. But during the summer, he’s eligible to negotiate an extension. The confusion is how lucrative or not the Warriors will be with their young guard. At this point, even getting an estimate is difficult. Over three years, Brandin Podziemski hasn’t shown vast statistical improvements.

He’s currently averaging 12 points and 3.5 assists, almost a similar output to his rookie season. The promise he showed early on in his career hasn’t manifested into an expanded role either. Podziemski has started just 19 of the 55 games in the season under Kerr. The puzzle in front of the Warriors is complicated.

News served to you like never before!

Prefer us on Google, To get latest news on feed

Prefer Us on Google

Both Monte Poole and Dalton Johnson agreed Podz showed flashes of being the next Warriors talisman. But in comparison to the deals offered to their young players, can Podziemski fetch a lucrative deal?

Do the Warriors buy into promise or play a practical game?

The Warriors have a precedent with handling young talent. They’ve managed to develop Moses Moody into a bright wing. Two summers ago, the former first-round pick signed an extension for $37.5 million. In Podziemski’s case, Steve Kerr placed greater trust in his talent. He started more games than Moody during his rookie year.

However, Moody has carved out a consistent place with the Warriors this season. Brandin Podziemski has struggled to do the same. That development has significantly affected what his next extension could look like.

“I think Brandon, they can’t pay Brandon. They can’t throw Brandon, you know, $60 million at Brandon for three years,” Johnson pointed out.

That’s largely due to the doubts about how effective he can be once the Warriors move on from the Curry era. To be fair to Podz, the 22-year-old is playing behind arguably the greatest point guard of this generation. Hence, he hasn’t had the opportunity to really showcase his full arsenal. Curry has been both a safety blanket and a roadblock in evaluating his ceiling.

But it’s clear that the Warriors saw immense potential. So, the question is, how much do they trust Podziemski to reach those heights? If they do, a figure higher than Moody would make sense. If not, the franchise would benefit from a team-friendly deal, allowing them to retain players such as Pat Spencer and rookie Will Richards. Brandin Podziemski’s future could depend on how he performs in the second half of the season.

The Warriors will be without Jimmy Butler. That opens up a spot, which Podziemski could capitalize on. With Stephen Curry also dealing with some injury troubles, Kerr could use the 22-year-old’s talents to manage his minutes. However, it seems that at this point, Podz needs to make some noise on the court.

If he plays an integral role over the remainder of the season, the Warriors might see a future with Podziemski. Do you think they should keep him? Let us know your views in the comments below.