With Jimmy Butler still sidelined for the opening months of the season, plenty of the attention around the Golden State Warriors has centered on Kristaps Porzingis and what he can do offensively. But the more intriguing shift may be happening on the other end of the floor.
Porzingis, a 7'3" center with a long track record as a shot-blocker and rim protector, didn’t make much of a defensive splash after Golden State acquired him from the Atlanta Hawks at the February mid-season trade deadline. That was likely tied to injury issues, health concerns and the simple fact that he was never fully up to speed.
This season should be different. A full offseason and training camp have already put Porzingis in a better position to be a more effective defender, and the arrival of former Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel as the new lead assistant is what really stands out.
Vogel has made clear he’s eager to work with Porzingis inside his defensive structure.
"I’m really excited about putting him in my defensive system. Because there’s a lot of details I believe in with my defensive system and how I use shot-blocking bigs that really gets a lot out of ’em on that side, and I really look forward to putting KP in those spots," Vogel said recently to Luca Evans of The San Francisco Chronicle.
Vogel’s résumé fits the pitch. He coached the Lakers to the NBA championship in 2020, then guided them to the league’s best defensive rating the following season with Anthony Davis anchoring a big frontcourt. That background makes the fit with Porzingis, Draymond Green, Yaxel Lendeborg, Al Horford and Charles Bassey even more interesting, since Golden State could lean into bigger, versatile lineups built around defense.
The appeal of Porzingis in the February trade wasn’t just his scoring touch from all three levels. It was also the idea that Golden State was adding a true shot-blocking presence, the kind the franchise hasn’t really had since Andrew Bogut a decade ago.
In 15 games after the trade, Porzingis averaged 1.1 blocks in fewer than 24 minutes per game. Those numbers should rise if he’s healthier and gets more run under Vogel, but the bigger point is the impact he can have as a rim protector rather than the raw block total.
After finishing 16th in defensive rating last season, the Warriors are trying to climb back into elite territory on that side of the ball. Porzingis is going to be a major part of that push.
In Other News...
Warriors Just Made A Roster Bet That Says Plenty About Their Depth
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Ike earned the opportunity by holding his own in nine summer league games, giving the Warriors a reason to keep looking at him beyond July. For a team always balancing immediate depth with longer-term upside, the deal is a small but telling bet on a player who clearly did enough to stay in the picture. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Porzingis Trade Could Look Even Better After Atlantas Next Move
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There have also been discussions with Charlotte involving Dorian Finney-Smith, a sign that the Hawks are at least testing the market on how to rework the return they got. Nothing has been finalized, but the fact that Hield is already part of new trade conversations suggests the Warriors could end up seeing their original haul look even cleaner if Atlanta keeps rearranging the pieces. [Read more 🡒]
James Wiseman Has One Familiar Edge In A Tough Knicks Battle
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Even with that edge, Wisemans path remains crowded and uncertain. The Knicks are expected to have a tight decision with their open roster spots, and Wiseman is part of a group that includes John Konchar, Bruce Brown, Ochai Agbaji and Drew Eubanks. For Golden State followers, it is another reminder that Wisemans next chapter is still being written, with his old coach in his corner but no guarantee that support will be enough to secure an opening-night place. [Read more 🡒]