Update: Warriors remain steadfast in not including Podz in potential Markkanen trade

Report: Warriors remain adamant about not including Podz in Markkanen trade, as reported by NBC Sports Bay Area The Golden State Warriors are standing firm in their decision to not include their promising young player, Podz, in any trade involving the Chicago Bulls' Lauri Markkanen. According to a recent report from NBC Sports Bay Area, the Warriors have made it clear that they are not willing to part ways with Podz, despite the Bulls' interest in acquiring him as part of a potential deal for Markkanen. Podz, a talented prospect with significant potential, has quickly become a valuable asset for the Warriors, and they see him as a key part of their future plans. While Markkanen would undoubtedly bring a valuable skill set to the Warriors' lineup, including his scoring ability and floor spacing, the team is unwilling to sacrifice their long-term prospects by including Podz in the trade. It remains to be seen if the Bulls will be able to convince the Warriors to change their stance, but for now, it appears that Podz will remain off the table in any discussions involving Markkanen. Warriors fans will no doubt be relieved to hear that the team is prioritizing their young talent and building for the future, rather than making a short-term move that could jeopardize their long-term success.

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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