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Amid a new Kristaps Porzingis mystery illness update, the Golden State Warriors revealed their plans for the free agent center this offseason.
TheGolden State Warriors took a risk in trading Jonathan Kuminga for Kristaps Porzingis at the deadline, and so far, that gamblehasn’t paidoff, as the Latvian center has played just one game in the last month and is currently dealing with a mystery illness with no direct timeline for a return.
However, while the latest Porzingis update could signal that the big mancould be getting closer to a return, he remains out and is only becoming a growing issue for the Warriors as it relates to this season and next.
Yet still, when talking about theteam’s plans for Porzingis, who in the last year of his contract and set to be a free agent this summer, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy dropped a bold quote about his future.
Anthony Slater
The Warriors traded for Kristaps Porzingis at the deadline. He’s only been on the floor for 17 minutes since.
Story with @RamonaShelburne on Porzingis and his uncertain future
Mike Dunleavy: “We see him as more than a rental.”
“We see him as more than a rental,”Dunleavy said, according to Anthony Slater and Ramona Shelbourne of ESPN. “We feel he can help our team this year, better our playoff position, and then moving forward fits what we are looking for.”
Porzingis was seen warming up before theWarriors’ latest game against the Houston Rockets, but still has no official return date or timeline as he deals with the mystery illness.
Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy On Kristaps Porzingis
While Golden State attempted to make trade deadline moves for bigger-name players, they ended up making a deal for Porzingis after a Giannis Antetokounmpotrade fell through. According to the team, theyknew the center had some major health concerns, but took the riskregardless.
“The simple answer on that for me is I heavily rely and trust our medical group,”Dunleavy told ESPN. “So when they look at the stuff and they say, ‘We’re good, we feel comfortable with whatwe’re dealing with,‘thenI’m on to the next thing from a basketball standpoint. So for that reason, we collectively are good with the decision and will go from there.”
However, despite how comfortable the Warriors were with trading for Porzingis, theyonly continue toget bad news on the trade deadline acquisition.
While hewas previously reported to be dealing with P.O.T.S., ‘an autonomic condition that can dramatically increase heart rate and cause dizziness and fatigue,’ there has been mixed reporting on that since arriving in Golden State, as head coach Steve Kerr walked back previous comments saying that hewasn’t recovering from that specific illness.
“It was a stupid mistake by me to talk about something thatI’m not qualified to talk about,”he said. “I regret even trying to discuss the diagnosis. That was my mistake. I need to leave that to professionals.”
Anthony Slater
Steve Kerr called it a “stupid mistake” for him to speak on Kristaps Porzingis’ health status on the radio last night. Porzingis remains out tonight for a fourth straight game with an illness.
Here is the full soundbite on his status
But what is clear is that Porzingis is dealing withsomething, asit’s kept him outfor theteam’s last six games.
Still, Dunleavy thinks trading for him was the right move, despite the injuries to players like Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry that the team is currently facing.
“In a perfect world, Iwould’ve loved to have Jimmy with him as well,”Dunleavy said. “But I think it works with or without Jimmy.”
Porzinigis is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but withDunleavy’s comments,it’s fair to say the Warriors will at least discuss the idea of resigning him to a new contract over the summer.
Kristaps Porzingis Mystery Illness Update
InSlater’s article quoting Dunleavy aboutPorzingis’ future with the team, he also included multiple quotes from the player himselfwanting to get back on the court as soon as possible, despite dealing with what has been characterized as a mystery illness.
“Honestly, as quickly as possible,”Porzingis previously said. “Even if I am exhausted out there, I wantto still push myself. …It’s always weird coming back after a while, butI’ve had my ups and downs in my career andI’ve been out for a bit andI’m kind of pretty good at jumping right back in.”
But, inwhat is some good news, the latest Porzingis update could signal the center is on the verge of a return. Slater previously reported that he is travelingon GoldenState’s current road trip, andwhile hedidn’t play on Thursday, he did warm up before the Houston game.
Anthony Slater
Welcome sight for the Warriors: Kristaps Porzingis and Seth Curry currently starting up a pregame on-court workout tonight in Houston
On Thursday, Kerr also commented onPorzingis’ status.
“No timeline but he is on the trip and he is going to get a workout today andwe’ll just take it day by day from there.It’s great thathe’s here and great thathe’s feeling well enough to be on the trip and hopefully that bodes well for him playing soon,”the coach said. “He was on the court yesterday morning possibly before the flight.Don’t quote me on that. I know I am going to get myself into more trouble. I thinkhe’s been on the court.”
Whenhe’s healthy, Porzingis is a very impactful player on both sides of the courtas a three-point shooting threat andrim protector. However, the illness has clouded any potential impact on this Warriors team, as he remains out.
Per Slater, Porzingis has sat out in 110 games in the last two and a half seasons.
Anthony Slater
Here is Steve Kerr on the Kristaps Porzingis addition. He said Rick Celebrini and the team’s medical staff did their “due diligence” and that they wouldn’t have made trade had they not believed they could keep Porzingis healthy.
The Latvian will have the chance to get back on the court on Saturday against the Oklahoma City Thunder or Monday against the Utah Jazz. For now, he, Curry, and a few others remain out for Golden State, as they continue to look set for yet another Play-In Tournament appearance.