Podziemski Locks In $110M Extension — But the Fantasy Ceiling Is Capped
Golden State's 23-year-old guard just secured a five-year, $110M deal, yet his 27.8 FPTS/G last season leaves him stuck as a late-round flier.
Secure role, but 27.8 FPTS/G keeps him a bench-depth add, not a priority.
- 5-year, $110M extension, fully guaranteed
- Mutual option in Year 5 plus a trade kicker
- 13.8 pts, 5.1 reb, 3.7 ast in 2025-26 (82 games)
- 27.8 FPTS/G last season — our rank #115 overall
- Deal kicks in 2027-28; plays out rookie deal first
Golden State handed Brandin Podziemski a five-year extension worth $110 million on Saturday, locking up their 23-year-old starting shooting guard before he ever hits restricted free agency. Shams Charania first reported the deal, which is fully guaranteed with a mutual option in the fifth year and a trade kicker attached. The extension doesn't kick in until next season — Podziemski plays out the final year of his rookie scale deal in 2026-27 first.
This is real money for a player who averaged 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 2025-26, when he suited up for all 82 games and started 43 of them. The No. 19 pick back in 2023 — same draft as Victor Wembanyama — Podziemski was Mike Dunleavy Jr.'s first selection as GM, and the front office is betting on him as the long-term bridge next to an aging core.
That core just got more expensive, too. Stephen Curry signed a two-year, $116 million extension last month, Draymond Green is back, and Jimmy Butler is working his way back from a torn ACL. Golden State opens the 2026-27 season on Wednesday, Oct. 21 on the road against the Lakers.
What It Means for Fantasy
Here's the gap between NBA value and fantasy value: Podziemski sits at our rank #115 overall (#55 at guard) after posting 27.8 fantasy points per game last season (2025-26, actual). That's a fine depth number, not a difference-maker. The contract secures his role — which matters for consistency — but it doesn't change his ceiling or his usage with Curry still dominating the ball.
The counting stats tell the story. His scoring, rebounding and assists all hover in the low-to-mid teens and single digits, meaning he contributes a little everywhere without ever carrying a category. Curry posted 39.7 FPTS/G last season (2025-26, actual) and will soak up possessions; Podziemski's value lives in the leftover reps and his across-the-board floor.
For managers, treat this as a stability signal, not a buy alert. In standard leagues he's a late-round or waiver-wire piece best used in deeper formats or when injuries thin your guard rotation. Keep him on your watch list — if Curry misses time this season, Podziemski's usage spikes and he becomes a genuine streaming play. Until then, there's no reason to reach.
