MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 03: Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks works out before game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Fiserv Forum on April 03, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
Golden State Warriors Sign Damian Lillard To One-Year, $99.2 Million Deal…
Since winning the 2022 NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors have been very mediocre, given the expectations they have set for themselves. The 2022-23 season saw the Warriors lose in the Western Conference Semifinals, and then Golden State failed to make the playoffs this past season via the play-in tournament. Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson are not getting any younger, which is why there is a concern in San Francisco about whether this team can sustain championship success. If you ask Brandin Podziemski, he will tell you that the team is just fine.
Podziemski is coming off a terrific rookie year with the Warriors, where he established himself as one of their most important secondary players. In fact, Podz was one of the reasons why Golden State was able to put themselves in a position to make the play-in tournament. A 46-36 season that did not result in a playoff appearance doesn’t bode well for the Warriors’ chances of competing for another title. Then again, Golden State’s confidence remains high, and the belief they have instilled in their youth has led Podziemski to the conclusion that his team can win another championship.
“I think we’re very close,” the Warriors rookie recently told Willard and Dibs on 95.7 The Game in San Francisco. “That’s easy to say for anybody on any team. Everyone has that belief that they can do it. But to see the old guys mixed with the new, mixed with the young, I think it’s something we can put together. Mike Dunleavy’s plan and Joe Lacob’s plan of drafting Jonathan [Kuminga] and Moses [Moody] and letting them develop, but also then drafting me and Trayce [Jackson-Davis], who had experience in college and are ready to impact.
