The Warriors are in dire straits when trying to find attractive trade with participation Kristaps Porzingiswrites Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
ESPN reported that Porzingis has been “seriously considering his basketball future” as he continues to battle recurring symptoms of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, an autoimmune condition. Porzingis confirmed his POTS diagnosis last October,
While the Latvian big man was limited to just 32 combined appearances last season with Atlanta and Golden State, the Warriors were optimistic about his health when they signed him to a two-year, $40 million contract this summer, league sources tell Siegel, and never seriously considered letting him enter as a free agent. Porzingis will receive $20 million in cap space this season and next, but only $3 million of his 2027/28 salary is guaranteed.
The Warriors, operating under the first tax apron, cannot take back more salary than they send in a trade, so they would need to add at least one more player to Porzingis to acquire a player making more than $20 million this season. That could complicate matters, especially since several Warriors players are ineligible to be traded until at least December 15.
For example, the Warriors according to reports reached the Bucks about Porzingis, p Miles Turner a seemingly logical approach from a positional perspective. He also has a contract that Milwaukee would probably like to shed a year after signing him to a nine-figure deal in free agency.
But the Bucks aren’t believed to be interested in Porzingis, and even if they were, Turner ($26.6 million this season, $83.6 million over the next three years) makes more money than him. Siegel notes that Moses Moody ($12.5 million) would tip the scales the other way, but league sources tell Siegel that the Warriors prefer to keep the injured wing and were only willing to trade him this offseason if it involved a “significant” roster upgrade.
Jimmy Butler (torn ACL) is another player recovering from a major knee injury, and Siegel’s sources are downplaying the 37-year-old’s chances of getting a deal with Golden State this season.
Siegel says Grizzlies this is a team to watch for Porzingis. League sources tell ClutchPoints that the Grizzlies, who have a trade cap of $28.8 million for the player, intend to use this TPE as a tool to add to their draft stock with an unwanted contract. Siegel wonders if the deal involving the former Warriors big man Quinten post could make sense if he becomes eligible for a trade in December.
Here’s more from Siegel:
- Karl-Anthony Towns recently confirmed he is willing to pay less than his maximum — $276 million over four years — in a possible extension with Nixwho are reportedly offering around $200 million over four seasons. Siegel has heard the six-time All-Star is rumored to be seeking in the $225-240 million range over four years, making $55-60 million annually. According to Siegel, “many” people around the league believe the two sides will eventually work out a new deal, but if that doesn’t happen, expect Towns to opt out of his $61 million 2027/28 option to become a free agent next summer.
- Competing front offices count Magic security guard Anthony Black will top $20 million a year as a restricted free agent in 2027, according to Siegel, who says Orlando’s rookie-scale extension offer to the former sixth overall pick “didn’t come close” to that figure. Black’s extension window closed on Monday night. Rival teams are keeping a close eye on the Magic this season because of their expensive payroll, Siegel adds, especially the max-paid forwards Paolo Bunchera and Franz Wagner.
- The Jazz, Bykov and Bucks were among the teams of Lakers called about possible deals involving participation Dalton Knecht before they gave up their first-round pick on Monday, league sources tell Siegel. According to Siegel, Milwaukee wanted multiple second-round picks or a first-round trade for a deal involving Knecht and Jericho Simsbut Los Angeles couldn’t make this trade one-for-one and didn’t want to part with those assets to shed Knecht’s salary. After clearing waivers on Wednesday, Knecht signed a two-way contract with the Knicks on Friday.
