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Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors

When it comes to making a major trade in the NBA, there are several key ingredients needed. Draft picks is one, especially for teams that are seeking to rebuild–and if a superstar is being traded, then it’s likely that a rebuild is coming. Cap relief is another. Contracts must match up when making a deal, but sending out expiring contracts for long-term contracts will be a point in favor of a team acquiring a star. And young players are the other key. For the Golden State Warriors, one stands out as the team weighs where to go in the immediate future.

That would be Brandin Podziemski, who is heading into his fourth year and has developing into a scorer and solid secondary ballhandler for the Dubs.

But if the goal this summer is to land a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard or Kevin Durant, the Warriors will need to include a young piece so that the Bucks, Clippers or Rockets have someone to slip onto their rosters. That’s most likely Brandin Podziemski.

Brandin Podziemski a Likely Trade Chip

Just how serious the Warriors are about making a blockbuster trade this summer remains to be seen–and just how available the options are is in question, too. But the intention now appears to be to make the kinds of runs at stars that the Warriors have made in the past. Antetokounmpo was the target in February, but the previous winter brought Jimmy Butler. There have been notable pursuits of Lauri Markkanen and Paul George in the past two years, too.

If the Warriors are able to pull a new star into their orbit this year, expect Podziemski to be part of the package.

That is the projection from Bleacher Report, which tabbed Podziemski as one of the three big trade chips on the roster, with Butler or Draymond Green, in a post headlined, “3 Trade Assets Every NBA GM Will Be Secretly Shopping This Offseason.”

The site noted: “Podziemski is eligible to sign an extension this offseason and averaged 15.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a starter. He’s likely the starting price in negotiations when trying to trade for a win-now star.”

Warriors Trade Plans Could Hinge on NBA Draft Lottery

The Warriors are one of the teams that will be eagerly watching the NBA draft lottery next week because as it stands, they have the No. 11 pick in the June draft. In what is expected to be a deep and talented group of incoming players, that means the Warriors will have a good opportunity to add a young star even if they stay put.

If they get lucky and move into the Top 4, they will quite suddenly be  a very attractive team with which to make a trade. Of course, if they have the opportunity to add a player like AJ Dybantsa, the Warriors might decide that no trade is the best option.

Remember, making a deal will be a tough choice for Golden State, because to match contracts with Houston or Milwaukee or anyone else, the Warriors would almost certainly have to send out Butler, who is rehabbing from a torn ACL.

As one NBA executive told heavy: “(Butler) has been a very good team player for them. He has been good on the court, really good off the court. So to trade him while he is rehabbing from an ACL? Obviously, that is a little bit ugly. No one wants to do that to a player.”