ESPN's Shams Charania reported Wednesday that the Golden State Warriors have "started exploring trade routes" for Kristaps Porziņģis, who has been away for the past couple of weeks dealing with a health issue. The Athletic's Sam Amick and Nick Friedell reported that they reached out to the Bucks about a trade (subscription required).
The organization released a statement, saying they won't "comment on trade speculation." But they added that they don't anticipate Porziņģis "being around the team in the immediate future."
So, exploring a trade makes sense. The way the Warriors structured Porziņģis' contract, guaranteeing only $3 million of the $20 million he is owed next season (it's a player option), makes a trade at least a little more plausible for a player who is considering retirement, as KP is.
But Golden State is in a tough spot, one it got itself into, and a trade would set the Warriors further off the path that they want to be on.
Trading Porzingis comes with challenges for the Warriors
Porziņģis is making $20 million this season, so Golden State could use his salary to trade for another star-level player if one becomes available. Given his status, that seems unlikely now.
For a trade to happen, they'll need to part with assets to entice a team to take on KP's contract, even though only $3 million of his salary is guaranteed for 2027-28. With opposing front offices well aware of the position that Golden State is in, stuck without its starting center, they could try to squeeze even more out of the Warriors. Or at least, they should. Danny Ainge sure would.
As is, Golden State will struggle to find a team willing to absorb Porziņģis, especially this season after the league cracked down on tanking with its new reform. There's less incentive to take on "bad contracts" for draft picks, but teams like Milwaukee are rebuilding, so there could be something there. About that, though.
The Athletic reported that the Bucks "are not believed to be interested" in KP, but that sentiment could change. Across the league, Myles Turner looks like the Warriors' best option, but he may not even be available. That should give you a sense of where things stand for Golden State.
It feels practically impossible for the Warriors to come out of a trade better on the other side, making their Porziņģis gamble another missed swing for the front office in their quest to not only build a contending team around Steph Curry, but also set themselves up for a future without him.
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