The Golden State Warriors have begun exploring trade options for veteran center Kristaps Porzingis, who remains out indefinitely while dealing with a private health issue that has him seriously weighing his future in basketball, according to league sources who spoke to ESPN's Shams Charania.
Porzingis signed a two-year, $40 million extension with the team in June, but only $3 million of the $20 million owed in the second season is guaranteed, effectively making it an expiring contract. The front office designed the deal without a raise between the two seasons, keeping him immediately trade-eligible rather than requiring him to wait until mid-December. That flexibility was not the original intent, however. Management believed Porzingis had an encouraging enough summer to project him as the starting center alongside Draymond Green and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg.
Porzingis has been dealing with a health issue for nearly two years, which he has described as POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome). The condition can cause dizziness, fatigue and brain fog. After missing the first two weeks of training camp and the entire preseason, he met with general manager Mike Dunleavy and medical decision-maker Rick Celebrini in San Francisco. He has since not returned to the facility and is mostly maintaining contact only with Dunleavy and Celebrini. The Warriors listed him as "not with team" for the season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers.
If his recovery does not progress, Porzingis could step away from basketball permanently. Any trade market for his contract remains unclear, though draft assets could still attract interest even without a guarantee he will return. The Warriors hold a nearly full set of first-round picks and several expiring contracts, and Dunleavy has indicated the roster was built to allow an in-season trade if the right deal emerges.
Source: ESPN NBA · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing