The Warriors’ plans for Kristaps Porziņģis have changed fast, and the evidence is now sitting in plain sight. His locker is gone.
Golden State brought Porziņģis in during the offseason with the idea that he would anchor the frontcourt and step in as the starting center once training camp opened. That never happened. He did not get to camp after news surfaced that he was dealing with an undisclosed health issue, and it was later reported that the problem was an autoimmune disorder.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that, “Golden State has started exploring trade routes for Kristaps Porzingis, who is now seriously contemplating his future in basketball as he deals with recurring symptoms from the autoimmune condition termed as POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), sources tell ESPN,"
That report set off speculation about whether Porziņģis might be nearing the end of his playing career. Then, over the weekend, he made his own position clear by announcing that he would be stepping away from basketball for now.
“Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis has announced that he is stepping away from basketball due to his physical inability to play at the level to which he is accustomed. Despite the announcement, which is not an official retirement, the Warriors will still be able to use Porzingis' $20 million salary in a trade leading up to February's deadline, per team and league sources,” ESPN’s Anthony Slater wrote.
What happens next is still unsettled, but the Warriors appear ready to move on if they need to. NBC Sports’ Dalton Johnson posted that, “Since the start of the season, the glass doors on Kristaps Porzingis' locker have been closed.
Now, his locker is completely cleared out. No nameplate, no items, nothing,”
That kind of clean-out says plenty about where things stand. Even with no official retirement, Golden State is clearly preparing for a future without Porziņģis, and a trade remains very much on the table.
For the Warriors, the issue is bigger than just one roster spot. They still do not have the size or dependable center presence they expected Porziņģis to supply, and now they have to sort out how to fill that gap while his situation remains unresolved.
In Other News...
Warriors Rotation Takes Another Hit As Backcourt Minutes Suddenly Open Up
The Warriors backcourt depth took another blow when Will Richard suffered a UCL tear in his left thumb against the Magic, an injury that is expected to keep him out indefinitely. For a team already juggling multiple sidelined players, it is another reminder of how thin the rotation has become and how quickly minutes can shift when one more guard goes down.
Golden State now has to sort through the ripple effects, especially in the backcourt where opportunity has opened up as much as concern has spread. The roster crunch has also fueled broader questions about how the team might respond if the injuries keep piling up, with one possible path being a trade to address the need for more reliable depth. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Two-Way Depth Suddenly Has A New Roster Problem
Alex Tooheys brief run through Warriors camp ended with a waiver, a reflection of how little preseason runway he got to show what he could do in Golden State. But his first game with Santa Cruz offered a quick reminder that the organization may not be done with him yet, as he opened the G League season with 18 points and contributed across the box score with rebounds and assists.
For a Warriors team carrying Malevy Leons and LJ Cryer on two-way deals without much NBA floor time so far, Tooheys strong start adds a new layer to the roster conversation. The front office has already shown a willingness to shuffle the back end of the roster when a player forces the issue, and Tooheys performance gives him a real chance to work his way back into that mix sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Face A Porzingis Trade Tension Fans Will Understand
The Warriors search for frontcourt help is turning into one of those familiar roster puzzles: how aggressive do they want to be, and how much young talent are they willing to part with to make it happen? Kristaps Porzingis has surfaced in trade discussions, and his buyout flexibility could make the market a little easier to navigate, but Golden State is still weighing the fit against its own priorities.
Moses Moody is at the center of that calculation. The injured wing is expected back within the next two months, and the Warriors have reasons to value keeping him, from his upside to the way his contract fits into future planning. For now, the team appears more inclined to shop in the range of players earning under $20 million, with center help emerging as the clearest target if a deal comes together. [Read more 🡒]