Barely off the ink of his new contract, Kristaps Porziņģis is reportedly “contemplating his future in basketball,” and the Golden State Warriors are already exploring trade options for him. This bombshell comes after Porziņģis missed the entire preseason, throwing a huge wrench into Golden State’s plans right when the season is kicking off.
The Lingering Health Nightmare
This isn’t just about a missed preseason, either. Porziņģis is dealing with ongoing health issues related to a POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) diagnosis. He arrived in Golden State last year at the trade deadline in a deal with the Hawks but only appeared in a paltry 15 games for them. During that short stint, he averaged 16.1 points and 5.3 rebounds. Despite that limited action and his continued health problems, the Warriors still signed him to a two-year, $40 million contract this summer, with $20 million due this season and a $3 million guarantee for 2027-28. They clearly hoped he’d be a key contributor and provide needed frontcourt depth. Last week, both Porziņģis and the Warriors gave vague updates. He said he was feeling better and hoped to return soon, even shooting down some wild online rumors. The team noted he met with the front office and medical staff and would be back, but gave no timetable. Now, we know they’re looking to move him.
Warriors Eyeing the Exit Door, But What’s the Cost?
This latest news screams that the Warriors might not see Porziņģis getting back on the court, or at least they don’t trust him to be a reliable player. This team needs all hands on deck if they want to make any kind of playoff run in the West. The problem? Trading a guy with this much health uncertainty is a brutal sell. That $40 million contract might have looked flexible on paper, but moving it now is tough. Golden State spent the summer positioning themselves for maximum flexibility next offseason, even working out a less-than-max extension with Stephen Curry to chase stars in 2027. They absolutely cannot afford to take on a bad long-term contract in a Porziņģis deal. So, if they aren’t getting long-term money back, they’ll likely have to give up assets just to get a team to take on what is effectively an expiring deal and send back someone useful.
This whole situation is a messy start to the season for Golden State. They need reliable players to make a playoff push in the West, and right now, Porziņģis just isn’t that guy. The real question is, who takes on this gamble, and what will Golden State have to give up to clear the deck?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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