Warriors must avoid repeating Jordan Poole mistake with Brandin Podziemski

Everyone knows that the Golden State Warriors are slowly fading away from relevance in the competitive scene. After missing the playoffs last season, they barely made moves that figure to save them from a similar fate this coming campaign. In fact, their offseason is not yet finished testing them in view of the impending contract extension of Brandin Podziemski.

The incoming fourth-year wing has until Oct. 19 to sign a rookie-scale extension with the Warriors. Both camps have registered their interest in getting a deal done sooner than later, but this front is much more complicated than what mutual desire makes it out to be.

Podziemski is definitely part of the Dubs' present and future plans, but their level of commitment to him, at least financially, could very well have an effect on their wiggle room in building their roster as the Stephen Curry era slowly closes.

As such, the front office will probably be very mindful of the actual figure they can come up with. After all, the last thing they need is a reprisal of the Jordan Poole situation.

The Warriors should be extra cautious about Brandin Podziemski's contract extension

Poole showed he was capable of being a franchise cornerstone, but that only lasted for a year. Golden State nevertheless jumped the gun and signed him to a hefty extension, only for the guard to fall short of expectations and crumble. Eventually, the Warriors had to trade him without receiving future-oriented assets.

Podziemski has not yet shown that he is worthy of being a cornerstone for the Warriors in the future. That makes it easier for the front office to offer him a standard rate. However, his camp has been quite ambitious so far, which rings an alarm for Golden State not to yield to his demands fully.

The Warriors should start laying down the groundwork for how they intend to operate once Curry hangs up his sneakers. As such, they cannot afford an expensive mistake by overpaying for Podziemski, lest they risk having an uninspiring nucleus in a jam-packed West.