After fumbling in a ten-point loss to the Clippers on Friday, the Golden State Warriors return to Chase Center to face the Phoenix Suns, who are coming off a similar-looking defeat to the Mavericks. Brandin Podziemski showed promise against the LA side, but now he might be sidelined! The Bay Area side is struggling, having lost three straight and sitting at .500, even behind the San Antonio Spurs in the standings. On the other hand, the Suns are no better at 15-15, making this matchup a crucial one for both teams.

But the Warriors have lost their young superstar in this must-win battle. Podziemski won’t return to the game because of a lower abdominal strain, as reported by Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area. It looks like he’ll be sidelined for the rest of the night. Podz probably injured himself in the second quarter, as he didn’t make it back for the third. He wrapped up the game with no points, two rebounds, and just 11 minutes of action.

Podziemski’s second NBA season has had its ups and downs, but he showed some promise against the Clipps. However, the Bay was outscored by 17 while he was on the floor today, despite playing 11 minutes. It wasn’t his best game, and he struggled to make an impact. The Warriors, though, will hope he avoids a long-term injury. They need him to bounce back and contribute again soon.

The Warriors need all hands on deck now, after their debacle since the hot start to this season. Amidst widespread rumors of GSW being open to making a big trade to find Steph a partner, Podz might still be at Golden State, but there is someone they could offload.

Brandin Podziemski could stay, but Kuminga’s future is uncertain

The Minnesota Timberwolves are hoping to hit the reset button in 2025 after a rocky start to the season. They’ve shown flashes of greatness, but staying consistent has been their main issue. They’ll undoubtedly need a big move to truly make a push for the playoffs.

Most of the blame for their up-and-down display has fallen on newcomers. Some fans are even saying it might be time for Donte DiVincenzo to start, or for Julius Randle to come off the bench. The two seem to gel on the floor, so maybe the answer is either keeping one or both, but with a trade.

Speaking of trades, Minnesota could really use a high-scoring small forward. Enter Jonathan Kuminga, who’s been making waves. Now, both teams are financially strapped, which means any deal would require moving some pieces. A trade sending Kuminga to Minnesota for rookie guard Rob Dillingham and veteran Joe Ingles could work, with some draft picks to make the deal sweeter.

It’s a move that would benefit both teams right now and down the road as well. The Warriors bring in Dillingham, a young guard who can develop alongside Stephen Curry, and Ingles, a sharpshooter. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, get the scoring help they need in JK, who would likely see more minutes and opportunities in their rotation. Could this trade be the spark both teams need?