Warriors trade idea sends Brandin Podziemski to Wizards for Bub Carrington

Warriors face a decision on Brandin Podziemski before it's too late

Brandin Podziemski is set to hit restricted free agency next summer, and that clock is forcing the Golden State Warriors into a tough call. The front office learned a hard lesson with Jonathan Kuminga letting a young asset's value stagnate until there's no market left for him. Rather than repeat that mistake, Golden State appears ready to explore trading Podziemski now, while he still carries real trade value around the league.

That urgency has produced more than one idea. One version has the Warriors flipping Podziemski straight up for a young point guard from Washington. Another, bigger version involves a three-team blockbuster with the Dallas Mavericks that could also send Moses Moody out the door.

The Bub Carrington trade idea: Podziemski for a 21-year-old point guard and picks

The headline scenario would send Podziemski to the Washington Wizards in exchange for 21-year-old guard Bub Carrington, along with a stack of draft compensation: a 2033 second-round pick (via Dallas), a 2028 second-round pick (via Denver), a 2027 second-round pick (via Golden State's own prior asset), and a lottery-protected 2029 first-round pick (via Portland).

That last detail is a nice bit of symmetry — the 2027 second-rounder heading back to the Warriors is the same pick they originally sent to Washington as part of the 2023 Jordan Poole-for-Chris Paul trade. Getting it back, plus a protected first-rounder and extra second-round picks, would meaningfully restock Golden State's draft asset chest.

• Warriors receive: Bub Carrington, 2033 second-round pick (via DAL), 2028 second-round pick (via DEN), 2027 second-round pick (via GSW's original asset), 2029 lottery-protected first-round pick (via POR)
• Wizards receive: Brandin Podziemski

Why Golden State would jump at Carrington

Carrington, the 14th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, has already shown real upside across two seasons in Washington, averaging 10.3 points, 4.5 assists and 3.4 rebounds while starting 105 of his 164 career games. The number that stands out most is 164 Carrington has never missed a single game in his career, a durability profile that would be a welcome addition for an aging Warriors roster that's dealt with injury issues up and down the lineup.

Beyond the toughness, Carrington projects as a legitimate schematic fit. He shot 40.8% on 2.1 threes per game last season, with a lot of that volume coming off the dribble and in catch-and-shoot situations exactly the kind of movement shooting Golden State's system rewards. Sliding into a locker room with Stephen Curry and De'Anthony Melton around him wouldn't hurt his development either.

Perhaps most importantly for the front office, Carrington won't reach restricted free agency until 2028. That gives the Warriors a full two-year runway to evaluate whether he's a real building block before any contract decisions come due precisely the kind of cost-controlled flexibility they lack with Podziemski.

Why the Wizards would say yes

For Washington, the logic is just as clean. With Trae Young now running the offense alongside second-year guard Tre Johnson, the Wizards have little use for another traditional lead ball-handler like Carrington. Podziemski, by contrast, thrives more as an off-guard who can play off other creators a better stylistic fit next to Young.

The Wizards also have essentially nothing to lose. Podziemski isn't expected to draw a huge market as a restricted free agent next summer, so taking a one-year flyer on him costs Washington little. If the fit doesn't click, they simply let him walk next offseason and keep building around Young, Anthony Davis and their growing pool of young talent.

The other option: a three-team deal that could send Podziemski to Dallas

The Carrington swap isn't the only path being discussed. Golden State is also said to be exploring a separate three-team trade framework centered around P.J. Washington and Taurean Prince, which would see the Warriors ship both Podziemski and Moses Moody to the Dallas Mavericks.

That version of the deal is aimed at addressing a more immediate need: bolstering the frontcourt and giving Stephen Curry a proven two-way wing who can contribute right away, rather than banking on a rookie-scale project. It would also settle the Podziemski question in one swoop, removing the restricted free agency uncertainty entirely instead of just kicking it down the road with a younger player.

What's next for Golden State

Whichever direction the Warriors lean betting on Carrington's long-term upside or getting immediate two-way help via Washington the message is the same: Golden State isn't waiting around to find out what Podziemski's next contract will cost them. Expect more names to surface as the front office works the phones ahead of the season.