The Golden State Warriors, obviously, have a bit of a conundrum with their Kristaps Porzingis contract.
It was a savvy move to make the second year of his deal, even with a player option, be guaranteed for just $3 million. For most potential trade partners, that made it essentially an expiring deal that Golden State could move off of if the opportunity presented itself this season. But now that Porzingis is not only out indefinitely but away from the team entirely, according to a report published by ESPN's Anthony Slater this morning, that picture looks much different.
It's an unfortunate outcome for both the Warriors and Porzingis—who were obviously hoping that he would prove to be a major factor in their rotation this season and earn another NBA lifeline once this contract expired. But with the recent developments surrounding the big man, Golden State's leverage in this scenario is officially shot.
According to Slater, even a retirement or a voided contract for Porzingis—aside from causing internal complications—wouldn't allow the Warriors to sign a player on any more than a minimum free-agent deal.
"Porzingis' unwillingness to be present at the Warriors' facility could be deemed a failure to render his services -- a reality that has been raised internally, sources said -- and could be used in an attempt to void his entire contract. But that would present its own complications, unless Porzingis expressed an intention to retire and willingly gave all the money back." Anthony Slater, ESPN
While Porzingis' contract being off the books entirely would bring Golden State below the first apron, then, their only viable path is still to find another team willing to eat that contract, and they're likely going to have to give up draft picks to get it done.
Voiding Kristaps Porzingis' contract is a real option for the Warriors—but is it the solution?
The fact of the matter is this—the Warriors simply won't be able to reach the same ceiling they had with a theoretically healthy Porzingis unless they are able to acquire a true center. Their options to accomplish that, even wielding Porzingis' deal as a trade chip, are very limited.
Perhaps they could get a team like the Charlotte Hornets to take it on in exchange for a pair of second-round picks. That would yield them a player like Grayson Allen or Royce O'Neale—both useful, but non-centers. The Los Angeles Clippers (and Warriors' potential free agent target Rui Hachimura) might be an option as well. Again, not a center.
There's virtually no ideal outcome for Golden State, then, in a trade scenario here. Almost every option would be less preferable than simply having Porzingis available, healthy, and reviving his trade value to be used in a larger deal later in the season. This is without even mentioning the fact that Golden State is in sole possession of just two of its second-round picks between now and 2032.
But according to Slater's report, attempting to void Porzingis' contract doesn't seem like a real option.
The Warriors are currently about $12.3 million over the first apron and $20.4 million into the luxury tax. As Slater notes, wiping Porzingis' contract off the books would take away most of the restrictions and additional taxes that come with being at those thresholds. Being below the first apron, they would be eligible to acquire more salary in a trade than they send out (up to the 125% + $100,000 threshold set by the NBA), and they would be able to sign a player via buyout who made more than the non-taxpayer mid level exception on his previous contract.
But negating Porzingis' contract entirely comes with serious downside. The Warriors would be left with just Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, and Moses Moody's contracts as sizable trade chips over the remainder of the season. If they were to trade Porzingis for a player like Allen, that's the sort of deal that could be flipped for another star in conjunction with one of those other contracts—as Slater notes the Warriors did with the De'Anthony Melton—Dennis Schröder—Butler saga in 2024-5.
Their only true path, then, is to try to flip Porzingis' contract for a useful rotation player. Even if it costs them some future draft capital, it keeps their hopes of replenishing this team via the trade market alive.
Add us as a preferred source on Google