Kristaps Porzingis is barely into his Warriors run and already the chatter has started.
A new health setback has kept the veteran big man out of training camp in Hawaii, and that absence has opened the door to trade speculation before Golden State has even played a meaningful game. One rival executive has gone so far as to compare the situation to Jonathan Kuminga’s spot a year ago, suggesting Porzingis could be on the move before February’s deadline.
The reason the talk has legs is simple: the Warriors gave Porzingis a contract that can be used in a deal. Golden State signed him to a two-year, $40 million extension before free agency, but only $3 million of his 2027-28 salary is guaranteed. In practical terms, that makes the 31-year-old something close to an expiring contract for the front office if it chooses to use him that way.
“I spoke with one rival West executive earlier this week who said that he wouldn't be shocked if Porzingis was moved by the Warriors and he didn't finish the season with them, moved at the trade deadline because he's basically a $20 million contract spot,” Siegel said recently on the Clutch Scoops podcast.
Golden State did not entertain the idea of dealing Porzingis over the summer. Since the extension was not a brand-new free-agent contract, he became trade-eligible as soon as it was signed.
The timing of the rumors is no accident. There was real optimism that Porzingis would be ready to go after taking part in Jimmy Butler’s minicamp last week.
Then last Sunday brought the latest illness, and that pushed him out of camp and out of Sunday’s preseason opener against the L.A. Clippers.
For now, though, Porzingis remains central to what the Warriors are trying to do. Al Horford started for Steve Kerr in the preseason opener, which says plenty about the alternatives Golden State wants to avoid. The Warriors do not want to lean on Draymond Green at center or ask too much of Charles Bassey, and they would rather not be forced to start a 40-year-old Horford, who is on a minutes restriction in his 20th NBA season.
Golden State’s best-case scenario is obvious: get Porzingis healthy, get him on the floor and let his value climb. That case gets even stronger once Butler is back from injury, since the 7-foot-3 big man is viewed as a natural fit alongside the six-time All-Star.
But if the health issues keep piling up and Porzingis can’t stay available, the Warriors may eventually have to do the thing they’re already being linked to now: use his contract, and perhaps additional assets, to chase a more impactful trade before the deadline.
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