Dub Hub: Brandin Podziemski views Markkanen trade rumors as ‘motivation’ for next season

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Friday, August 2nd.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• In an interview on The Dinner Table Podcast, Brandin Podziemski says he’s using the recent Lauri Markkanen trade rumors as ‘motivation’ for next season.
• ESPN’s Brian Windhorst shares his thoughts on Steph Curry’s Olympic shooting slump.
• 14-year NBA veteran Gordon Hayward announces his retirement.

Despite swirling speculation about a potential trade involving Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen, Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski is turning the offseason rumors into motivation for his upcoming second year in the NBA. Embracing the uncertainty, Podziemski is determined to prove his value to the Warriors, as he discussed on The Dinner Table Podcast.

“No one likes to admit it, but everybody sees the good and the bad,” Podziemski states. “For me, I think the bad can just be used as motivation. Obviously, my name has been in the Markkanen trade a lot, so if the trade doesn’t go through and I’m still here, to have a good second year and be like, ‘Good thing we didn’t trade him,’ would be cool for me.”

A promising first season saw Podziemski named to the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team, averaging 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. All this while being only one year into his rookie contract makes Podziemski an appealing asset in potential trade talks with the Jazz.

Nonetheless, the young guard remains focused on carrying his rookie success into the bigger role that Golden State has lined up for him next season. Whether or not a trade materializes, Podziemski says he will be ready to make a significant impact for any team he plays for.

Via NBC Sports Bay Area:

“If I’m in a Warriors uniform or if I’m in a different uniform come October, that’s where I’ll be,” Podziemski asserted. “Training camp starts October 1, so whatever group of guys I’m with is the ones I got to win with, so that’s just kind of how I look at it. I don’t really look too much into where I’m going to be or where I’m not going to be.”

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Friday, August 2nd:

Warriors News:

Why Podz isn’t bothered by ‘fun’ offseason trade rumors about him | NBC Sports Bay Area

“It’s a stamp of validation that I’m doing all the right things — everything that I tried to do my rookie year, they’re all the right things, and I’m going to do [that] in the second year,” Podziemski explained. “Just to have an elevated role in this second year, hopefully, is something I’m looking forward to.”

Still, Podziemski appeared to acknowledge the possibility that he isn’t a Warrior by next season.

“If I’m in a Warriors uniform or if I’m in a different uniform come October, that’s where I’ll be,” Podziemski asserted. “Training camp starts October 1, so whatever group of guys I’m with is the ones I got to win with, so that’s just kind of how I look at it. I don’t really look too much into where I’m going to be or where I’m not going to be.”

Why Team USA playing time complaints not welcome at Olympics | NBC Sports Bay Area

Team USA men’s basketball is off to a roaring start in standing atop the medal stage, beating their first two opponents, Serbia and South Sudan by a combined 43 points, yet the main talking points after both wins have been about who didn’t play as opposed to the ways the Americans have dismantled their competition thus far.

It is absurd. Are we that spoiled? Steve Kerr, whether he’s coaching the Warriors or Team USA, is going to hunt matches. That is exactly what he did against Serbia and South Sudan, cruising to two early victories.

“Last game, we had a champion and an All-NBA guy not play any minutes, and tonight we had an MVP not play any minutes,” Kevin Durant said to reporters Wednesday after Team USA’s 103-86 win over South Sudan. “They didn’t complain. We had guys who stepped up and filled those roles perfectly.”

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst explains what he thinks is the cause of Steph Curry’s Olympic shooting slump

What were the best, worst and most surprising NBA offseason moves this cycle? | The Athletic

In a vacuum, Anderson’s impact is clear. He’s a point forward who serves as an offensive hub, posting career highs in both assist percentage and assist-to-usage ratio (98th and 100th percentile among forwards, respectively, per Cleaning the Glass). Defensively, his ability to cover multiple positions is underrated. He generates a good number of deflections (89th percentile, per CraftedNBA), can protect the rim at times and forces turnovers. If you squint hard enough, he’s Draymond Green Lite (kind of).

But for a team that has relied on its spacing for years, Anderson historically isn’t a clean fit. He’s also not a strong rebounder at his position, despite his 6-foot-9 frame. Maybe the Warriors are confident Anderson can return to being a league-average shooter, but I wouldn’t bank on it. Per PBPStats, Minnesota was a plus-8 with Anderson off the floor in the postseason and a minus-6 with him on, which is a telling sign of a player whose weaknesses seem to be magnified more than his strengths being accentuated. Not saying it can’t work, but it looks tricky.

Kevon Looney working out in UCLA as part of his offseason summer training

NBA News:

Sources: 2nd Kobe Bryant statue to be unveiled outside Lakers’ arena | ESPN

Friday’s date (8/2/24) holds similar numerology meaning to the February ceremony (2/8/24), representing both of Bryant’s uniform numbers (8 and 24) and the No. 2 that 13-year-old Gigi wore on the basketball court.

The statue of the father and daughter is located near the Los Angeles Kings’ monument celebrating the team’s 50th anniversary. It will be available for the public to visit starting Saturday morning, sources told ESPN.

10 all-time best Olympic players on Team USA since 1992 | NBA

3. Charles Barkley

He famously said: “I don’t know anything about Angola, but Angola’s in trouble.” With that, “Sir Charles” bum-rushed his way into the Olympics, leading with a sharp elbow and a gift of gab, as part of the iconic Dream Team.

He led that richly talented team in scoring at 18 points per game, then returned four years later and led the 1996 team in scoring and rebounds, even though his skills began to decline. He also would’ve repped three Olympic teams had Bob Knight, citing Barkley’s defense, not cut him in 1984. Knight later said that was a mistake.

Gordon Hayward announces his retirement after 14 seasons in the NBA

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

The Warriors might have too many good players

If that sentence makes you roll your eyes, I ask you to read it again, and focus on the penultimate word: good. The Warriors most certainly do not have enough great players; and they most likely do not have enough very good players ... but they seem to have too many good players.

A tweet to end the week:

Follow @unstoppablebaby on Twitter for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.