Kristaps Porzingis, Warriors
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Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis' long-term outlook in Golden State is under scrutiny.
On the surface, the Golden State Warriors’ decision to trade Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield for the expiring contract of Kristaps Porziņģis looked like a straightforward salary maneuver — a move designed to clear future cap space while absorbing short-term uncertainty.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, that interpretation misses the real intent.
Golden State’s front office views Porziņģis as a long-term play, not a rental — a calculated bet that could extend beyond this season if health, chemistry, and timing finally align.
Warriors’ Long-Term Bet on Porziņģis
Stein reported that after attempts to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo or Jaren Jackson Jr. stalled, the Warriors pivoted to a different strategy: bring Porziņģis fully into Golden State’s program, let him work closely with the team’s medical staff, and then attempt to re-sign him in the offseason at a more team-friendly number than his current $30.7 million expiring salary.
“Get Porziņģis in their program … hope he clicks with the team and its medical staff and then try to convince him to re-sign in the offseason,” Stein wrote Monday, noting the move was not made solely with this season in mind.
That framing matters even more after Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending knee injury — a development Stein described as having “undoubtedly and irretrievably” lowered Golden State’s ceiling for 2025.
Early signs were encouraging. Porziņģis spoke openly about his comfort level in the Bay Area shortly after arriving. But once again, optimism has collided with availability.
Porziņģis Sidelined Again as Warriors Adjust
The Warriors will continue leaning on a thin frontcourt as their long-awaited reinforcement remains unavailable.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported that Porziņģis did not travel with the team for its quick two-game road trip to New Orleans and Memphis — a strong indication he will miss at least the next two games.
“Kristaps Porzingis did not make the trip to New Orleans with the Warriors,” Slater wrote. “It’s a quick two-gamer with a back-to-back in Memphis. This would indicate Porzingis (out with illness yesterday) is expected to miss at least the next two games. Draymond Green did make the trip.”
With Stephen Curry already sidelined, Porziņģis’ continued absence further complicates a frontcourt rotation that has been in flux since the deadline.
Steve Kerr: ‘He’s Not Even Going to Come Over Here’
Porziņģis appeared on the NBA injury report Sunday morning, listed as out with illness just hours before Golden State hosted the Denver Nuggets and three-time MVP Nikola Jokić.
Head coach Steve Kerr said the news arrived abruptly.
“I haven’t talked to him, but I just got a text this morning that he was sick and at the hotel,” Kerr told reporters. “He’s not even going to come over here.”
The timing was especially frustrating. Just one day earlier, Kerr had expressed optimism that Porziņģis’ workload was about to increase.
“We’ll bump it up a little bit,” Kerr said Saturday. “Talking to the training staff this morning, we’ll be able to bump it up — but not too much.”
Illness scrapped that plan entirely.
The Warriors did beat the Nuggets even without Porziņģis, thanks to the historic performance of 39-year-old Al Horford.
A Stark Contrast: Kuminga Nears Hawks Debut
The uncertainty surrounding Porziņģis’ availability stands in sharp contrast to the situation of the player Golden State sent out in the deal.
Kuminga is expected to make his Atlanta Hawks debut on Wednesday against the Washington Wizards, despite being listed as questionable on the injury report. Slater reported that the expectation remains Kuminga will suit up, marking a fresh start for the 22-year-old forward just weeks after the trade.
The juxtaposition has not been lost on Warriors fans: the player they moved on from is nearing his return, while the centerpiece they acquired remains sidelined.
Why the Warriors Are Proceeding Carefully
Golden State’s caution with Porziņģis is rooted in necessity.
He had already missed 13 consecutive games before the trade and three more afterward while dealing with Achilles tendinitis, an injury the organization has treated with extreme care. Even his debut came with strict minutes monitoring.
Complicating matters further is Porziņģis’ ongoing battle with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), a condition affecting the autonomic nervous system that has plagued him for a second consecutive season and continues to make his availability unpredictable.
The Plan Remains — Even if the Timeline Doesn’t
Until Porziņģis returns, the Warriors will continue relying on Horford up front — a stopgap solution that has worked in flashes but was never meant to be permanent.
In a season defined by adaptation, Golden State is once again buying time. The Porziņģis trade was never just about the present, but whether the long-term vision ever fully materializes may depend less on strategy than on health.