The Golden State Warriors made a bold move at the trade deadline, bringing in 7'2" veteran Kristaps Porzingis in a deal that sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks. But before Porzingis has even suited up for his new team, the trade is already drawing criticism-and not the subtle kind.
Porzingis landed at No. 4 on a recent list of the league’s most overrated players, a ranking that’s more about availability than ability. The former All-Star hasn’t played since January 7, when he logged just under 22 minutes against the Pelicans. Since then, it's been a waiting game, with Golden State choosing caution over urgency as he works his way back from injury.
That caution is understandable. Porzingis has only topped 57 games in a season once since 2016-17, his second year in the league.
That stat alone feeds into the narrative that he’s more promise than production at this stage in his career. And with the Warriors already reeling from the season-ending injury to Jimmy Butler, critics are questioning the logic of doubling down on another high-risk, high-reward player.
Statistically, Porzingis is putting up his lowest numbers since his rookie campaign-17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. On the surface, that’s not exactly the kind of production that screams “difference-maker” for a team trying to claw its way into playoff relevance.
But here’s the thing: those numbers come in just 24.8 minutes per game, easily a career low. Stretch that out to per-36-minute production, and Porzingis is right in line with his career averages-or even better in some areas, like points and assists. So while the raw numbers may underwhelm, the efficiency is still there when he’s on the floor.
That’s the core tension with Porzingis right now. The talent is obvious.
He’s a true two-way threat-capable of spacing the floor with his shooting, protecting the rim with his length, and providing matchup nightmares for opposing defenses. But the health questions aren’t going away.
And for a Warriors team that’s already thin on margin for error, the gamble feels significant.
Still, labeling the trade a “foolish decision” before Porzingis has even taken the court in a Warriors uniform seems premature. Golden State didn’t make this move for February-they made it for April, May, and, if all goes well, June. The hope is that a healthy Porzingis can be the kind of X-factor that shifts the balance in a tight playoff series.
Yes, the skepticism is warranted. The injury history is real.
But so is the upside. And if Porzingis can stay on the floor, the Warriors may have found themselves a stretch big who can elevate both ends of the court.
For now, the criticism is just noise. What matters is what Porzingis does when he finally steps on the court in a Warriors jersey. With a contract year looming and plenty of doubters to silence, there’s no shortage of motivation.