Kerr: Dubs hope to get Podziemski back Friday

Podz missed practice on Monday and will now be unavailable for the season opener. There are high expectations for the type of impact he’ll make this season, so they’ll certainly miss him. De’Anthony Melton will likely replace him in the starting unit.

This has been a bad 24 hours for the Warriors, who saw Stephen Curry suffer an ankle injury during Sunday’s open practice. Podziemski is dealing with a sore lower back, casting some doubt on his availability for Wednesday’s season opener against the Lakers. If he can’t play, De’Anthony Melton takes on added importance within the Warriors’ rotation.

Podz signed a five-year extension with the Warriors just a few days ago, showing how important he is to their future. He has been solid so far during the preseason and should be an important piece for the Warriors once again this season. Following a rough start to last season, Podz closed the year out well and will look to carry some of that momentum into this season.

The extension is fully guaranteed and includes a mutual option in the fifth year as well as a trade kicker, according to Charania. Podziemski is coming off his best season in the NBA where he played in all 82 games and set career-highs nearly across the board. He’s coming off the board in the ninth-round of fantasy drafts this year.

Focusing on honing one’s craft during the offseason, rather than rehabbing from an injury, can make a significant difference for a player. That was the case for Melton this offseason, despite procedures on both thumbs. Last summer was spent recovering from a torn ACL, while a back injury was the issue in the summer of 2024. A healthy Melton can be a factor in fantasy basketball, especially category leagues, whether he starts or comes off the bench. His injury history puts him in “late-round flier” territory in drafts, but Melton can still be a steal for managers.

In his third season with Dallas, Williams enjoyed the most productive campaign of his career behind averages of 13 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.2 “stocks.” He’ll offer depth to a Warriors team that surprisingly stood pat during free agency, and Williams will compete for backup guard minutes with the likes of De’Anthony Melton and Will Richard.

Melton averaged a career-high 12.3 points per game last season in 23 minutes per game. His three-point shooting fell off in a big way, though, as his 29 percent three-point shooting percentage was the worst of his career since 2019. Nevertheless, the Warriors are opting to bring Melton back as point guard depth off the bench.

Melton was one of the few players to come off Golden State’s bench and find production. He logged 28 minutes and converted half of his 10 field-goal attempts in that time, leading him to finish as the Warriors’ third-leading scorer on the evening. Melton also rebounded well from the guard position and nearly landed a double-double in the process. For the eighth-year veteran, he played relatively well in his first season back from an ACL tear. He averaged 12.3 points in his 49 regular-season appearances but struggled with his three-point efficiency. Perhaps being another year removed from the injury will pay off for him next season, potentially leading to more fantasy production.

Podziemski did what he could on Friday during his 39 minutes on the floor. He led the Warriors in shot attempts, points, and rebounds, while tying a team-high in made three-pointers. The third-year guard’s zero assists and four turnovers weren’t ideal, but his production elsewhere was some of the best on the team. Podziemski eventually became the full-time starter over the second half of the season and played fairly well in the role. Going into Year 4, he could potentially have some fantasy value, depending on what the roster looks like.

For the first time in his career, Podziemski was able to reach the 30-point mark. It wasn’t enough for Golden State to get the win, but it was an excellent performance for him. Podz is averaging career highs in points, assists and three-pointers per game, and he is wrapping up the season on a hot streak. Golden State will be the 10th seed in the West entering the play-in tournament next week, and Podz will need to stay hot if they want to make it to the playoffs.