One NBA franchise’s cap crunch is another franchise’s roster coup. The Golden State Warriors are winding down the 2026 NBA offseason with a very crunchy cap sheet that is $348k away from the second apron.
The ever-constricting second apron is amplifying two unresolved contract extension agendas for the Warriors: a new contract for their franchise cornerstone Stephen Curry and a new contract for their young franchise talent Brandin Podziemski.
Curry’s extension presumably carries the highest priority for the Warriors, and that puts an interesting spotlight on Podziemski’s future with the Warriors
If Podziemski and the Warriors are unable to reach an agreement on a new contract extension by the last day before the start of the 2026-27 NBA regular season, Oct 19, 2026, then Podziemski will go to 2027 NBA restricted free agency. A Podziemski restricted free-agent market is a space the rebuilding Bulls should compete in, looking forward to the 2027 NBA offseason.
NBA restricted free-agent classes have been headlined recently by players whose salary expectations have largely exceeded their on-court impact, such as unrestricted free agent guard Cam Thomas or Podziemski’s former Warriors teammate, now Timberwolves forward Jonathan Kuminga.
However, in Podziemski’s case, the Bulls may find themselves in a position to get competitive with the Warriors for Podziemski’s talents in the form of a restricted free agent offer sheet.
Podz as a rebuild propellant
The hyper short-term nature of the Bulls 2026-27 roster, combined with the NBA’s anti-tanking rules, is creating the scenario that lends itself to valuing a player like Podziemski in a free-agent light that may not have flickered five seasons ago.
What Podziemski can offer to the Bulls is reliable three-point shooting (career 37.5% three-point shooter) with volume that has increased year over year in his first three NBA seasons. Additionally, Podziemski hustles on both ends of the court.
For a guard, Podziemski rebounds well with a career average of 5.3 rebounds per game and a career average of 1.0 steals per game.
The Bulls need long-term backcourt talent
By the start of the 2027 NBA offseason, Bryson Graham will be one year into his Bulls rebuild, and by then he needs to have a clear outlook on how he wants to build his roster, not just for the next upcoming season but for multiple seasons that ideally coalesce around a clear roster core.
Norman Powell will be a great veteran presence for maybe half to a whole 2026-27 NBA season, and it would be wise for the Bulls to cash in whatever value they can get for him before the start of the 2027-28 NBA season, while targeting a player like Podziemski who better fits a rebuild timeline.
