Warriors fans fire away at Steph Curry's 6-foot-4 backcourt partner - "The man we didn’t want to trade for Markkanen"

After his promising rookie season, Golden State Warriors shooting guard Brandin Podziemski is encountering a sophomore slump. Amid the 6-foot-4 guard's early season struggles, Warriors fans lambasted him and called out Golden State for failing to capitalize on his offseason trade value.

Selected No. 19 in the 2023 NBA draft, Podziemski was one of last season's biggest rookie surprises. He played a two-way role off the bench for a competitive 46-win Warriors team, earning NBA All-Rookie first team honors. Across 74 contests, he averaged 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.2 3-pointers per game, shooting 45.4% and 38.5% from deep.

Following veteran star shooting guard Klay Thompson's offseason departure to the Dallas Mavericks, many projected Podziemski to take a sizeable Year 2 leap. Moreover, per ESPN's Kendra Andrews, Golden State was unwilling to include him in an offseason trade for Utah Jazz star forward Lauri Markkanen.

Landing Markkanen would have given the Warriors a proven high-level scoring option alongside superstar point guard Steph Curry. Instead, Golden State entered the season with the four-time NBA champion surrounded by an assortment of role players.

Curry and Co. got off to an unexpectedly strong 12-3 start. However, they have since lost four consecutive games, igniting fan criticism toward Podziemski.

Through 18 outings, the sophomore's statistics are down across the board. He is averaging 7.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.5 apg, 0.7 spg and 0.8 3pg, shooting just 37.8% and 21.5% from downtown.

On Sunday, X/Twitter user @30problemz shared Podziemski's stats, highlighting his "disappointment."

Afterward, many Warriors fans remarked about Podziemski's subpar play making him virtually untradeable.

"What team would even want him in a hypothetical trade at this point," @FeelLikeGolden said.

"I don't think we can put how bad he's been into words, honestly," @roodmurat wrote.

"(I) just want him gone, man," @GameOnSteph_ said.

Meanwhile, others expressed frustration with Golden State for passing on the opportunity to land Markkanen.

"This (is) the man we did't want to trade for Markkanen," @king_kagins wrote.

"We had the chance to trade him for a second star, but ...," @_Crimson9120 said.

"Reminder: This is who they didn't want to give up for Lauri Markkanen," @Jordan848049965 wrote.

---

Brandin Podziemski on difficulty of being involved in Warriors' Lauri Markkanen trade rumors

On the "Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective" podcast last month, Brandin Podziemski reflected on being involved in Lauri Markkanen trade rumors.

According to the sophomore, he had difficulty navigating his way through the first-time experience.

"It was hard for me to process it mentally," Podziemski said. "Everybody is hyping you up but at the same time tearing you down, like, 'Why didn't we trade him? We should've traded him for X, Y, Z.'"

However, he added that he appreciated Golden State's front office's belief in him.

"You feel the respect and love from (general manager) Mike Dunleavy (Jr.), (owner) Joe Lacob and our front office, and how much they value me after seeing just one year of what I could do," Podziemski said.

Nevertheless, the pressure to live up to expectations has seemingly contributed to Podziemski's Year 2 decline.

---