Warriors exercise 2026-27 option on former first-round pick

The Golden State Warriors have exercised their rookie-scale team option on guard Brandin Podziemski for the 2026-27 season, the team announced Thursday in a press release.

The move, which was considered a sure thing to happen before Friday’s deadline, locks in Podziemski’s $5,679,458 salary for the fourth and final year of his rookie contract. He’ll now be eligible for a rookie scale extension during the 2026 offseason and would reach restricted free agency in 2027 if he and the Warriors don’t work out a new deal before then.

Podziemski, 22, has been a regular part of Golden State’s rotation since being drafted 19th overall in 2023. The former Santa Clara star averaged 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 26.8 minutes per game in 64 outings last season, posting a shooting line of .445/.372/.758. He’s off to a solid start this year too, scoring 12.2 PPG and knocking down 42.3% of his three-point attempts through five games, including three starts.

Podziemski is one of six Warriors players whose contract includes an option for 2026-27, but he’s the only one of those six on a rookie scale contract. While rookie scale options must be exercised by Oct. 31, decisions on player options for Draymond Green, Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton, along with team options for Jonathan Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis, won’t be due until next June.