Kristaps Porzingis has been traded to the Golden State Warriors.
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Kristaps Porzingis has been traded to the Golden State Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors are increasingly optimistic that newly acquired Kristaps Porziņģis will make his long-awaited debut shortly after the NBA All-Star break.
According to Nick Friedell of The Athletic, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Monday that Porziņģis has progressed to three-on-three work, a significant step in his recovery process.
“He said the hope is that Porziņģis is ready to play against the Celtics in the first game out of the break,” Friedell reported on X. “Kerr said that when he does return, Porziņģis will play in short bursts.”
Injury History Looms as Warriors Take Cautious Approach
Porziņģis arrives in Golden State with durability questions that have followed him throughout the season.
The 7-foot-3 big man missed 13 consecutive games prior to the trade, including 12 due to left Achilles tendinitis, and has appeared in just 17 games this season after logging 42 games last year. That history has informed the Warriors’ deliberate plan to reintegrate him gradually rather than accelerate his return.
Kerr emphasized that Porziņģis’ minutes will be carefully managed early on, with an eye toward availability later in the season rather than immediate volume.
Porziņģis Embraces Fresh Start in Golden State
Despite the setbacks, Porziņģis has expressed optimism about his new situation and the Warriors’ medical infrastructure.
“I think it’s a great, great opportunity to turn a new page,” Porziņģis said over the weekend. “From what I’ve seen and the conversations I’ve had with the medical staff here, I have to say I’m very surprised and very optimistic. I’m in really, really good hands — if not some of the best hands — and I look forward to having a surprisingly good post-All-Star break.”
That optimism aligns with Golden State’s broader belief that Porziņģis, if healthy, can materially alter the team’s frontcourt ceiling.
Warriors’ Deadline Moves Reshape Frontcourt Rotation
Golden State paid a significant price to acquire Porziņģis, sending Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield out in the deal while preserving future draft flexibility for a potential offseason pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Warriors further restructured their frontcourt by trading Trayce Jackson-Davis to the Toronto Raptors for the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2026 second-round pick.
That leaves Porziņģis, Al Horford, and Quinten Post as the primary interior options alongside Draymond Green, who remained with the franchise after tense deadline speculation.
Draymond Green Sees Porziņģis as Difference-Maker
Green was vocal about the potential impact Porziņģis could have once he’s available.
“I like it,” Green said. “Add more size. More rim protection. More shooting. Porziņģis — if you switch guards on him, he really punishes them. He was the missing piece to a Boston championship. When he was with that team, they were really tough to beat.”
The Warriors are counting on that versatility — floor spacing, rim protection, and mismatch creation — to raise their playoff ceiling.
Porziņģis Eager to Play With Stephen Curry
Porziņģis is also eager to share the floor with Stephen Curry, even though the Warriors’ franchise star remains sidelined.
“I’ve been a huge fan of Steph for a long time,” Porziņģis said. “Just watching him from outside, he’s unreal. To play alongside somebody like that will be really cool. He brings the level up for everybody. Special, special player.”
Kerr confirmed Monday that Curry will not return until after the All-Star break and will miss Golden State’s final pre-break game Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs.
“He will not play [against] San Antonio,” Kerr told reporters. “He will not play in the All-Star Game.”
Curry has now missed five consecutive games while recovering from patellofemoral pain syndrome, commonly known as runner’s knee.
Warriors Eye Post-Break Reset
With Curry sidelined and Porziņģis trending toward his debut, Golden State appears to be treating the All-Star break as a natural reset point.
If Porziņģis returns as planned, the Warriors will emerge from the break with a reshaped frontcourt, renewed size, and a clearer picture of how their retooled roster fits together — just as the postseason race begins to tighten.