Teams like the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns already appear like Play-In Tournament teams in the Western Conference, and that's before anything potentially goes wrong on the eve of the season.
That's just what's happened in Phoenix with starting center Mark Williams, leaving the Suns with an injury nightmare that the Warriors can't afford to face with their own injury-prone big man in Kristaps Porzingis.
Suns suffer injury nightmare Warriors must avoid with Kristaps Porzingis
According to ESPN's Shams Charania on Friday, Williams has undergone surgery on a torn labrum in his left shoulder, putting the 24-year-old out for an extended period of time after he appeared in 60 games last season.
It's a reminder that Golden State must avoid a similar fate with Porzingis who, like Williams, has had a lengthy medical record in recent years. Both teams took the risk to bring back their big men in free agency, with Williams signing a three-year, $38 million contract in Phoenix, while Porzingis returns to the Bay Area on a two-year, $40 million deal (second year only $3 million guaranteed) after being acquired from the Atlanta Hawks in February.
Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams underwent surgery Thursday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder and will miss an extended period of time, sources tell ESPN. Williams suffered the injury in an offseason workout. pic.twitter.com/iXVlVVItv4
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 11, 2026
The only silver lining for the Suns is that Williams' injury will give increased opportunity to second-year center Khaman Maluach who, after an underwhelming rookie season, showed immense promise during summer league in July.
The Warriors don't hold the same silver lining if or when Porzingis is unavailable this season, having lost young big man Quinten Post after the Memphis Grizzlies smartly out-priced them on an offer sheet they weren't willing to match for the restricted free agent.
Warriors can't afford to lose Kristaps Porzingis early in the season
Already without Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody entering the season, Golden State can ill-afford to lose Porzingis to any kind of medium to long-term injury as the former All-Star presents as their second offensive option behind Stephen Curry.
Putting that level of pressure on someone who hasn't played more than 65 games in any season over the last decade is fraught with danger, yet it's the reality the Warriors find themselves in after missing out on LeBron James and failing to acquire another big name in recent months.
Porzingis is arguably more important to Golden State's fortunes than Williams is to Phoenix, especially in Butler's absence through the opening months of the season. The Warriors simply have to pray for a change in fortune when it comes to Porzingis' availability in recent years.
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