Team sources continue to express a little optimism Kristaps Porzingis will play another game for Warriorsinforms ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
In breaking down the Porzingis situation, Slater writes that the Warriors expected Porzingis to be around the team this fall, even if he is unable to play due to health issues. However, the veteran big man has not returned to Golden State facilities since early October, and the team changed his designation on the injury report from “general illness” to “not with the team,” a change Slater describes as purposeful. According to Slater, the absence of Porzingis “can no longer be called excusable.”
Sources at ESPN say the Warriors have discussed internally the possibility of declaring Porzingis’ absence an inability to perform his services, which could open up the team to recoup some of his salary or even void his contract. Still, it would be a difficult path that could lead to a protracted battle with Porzingis and the NBPA — and while lowering or eliminating the 31-year-old’s cap would ease Golden State’s luxury tax burden, it wouldn’t open up many new options for the team to build a roster that would still be well over the cap.
The preferred course of action for the front office would be to take a similar approach to the Porzingis contract that it did De’Anthony MeltonA $12.8M annual deal in 2024/25 after he tore his ACL, Slater says. Golden State included a second-round pick in Melton’s contract in the Dec. 15 trade Dennis Schroeder that season.
However, with no team looking to shake up their rosters at the start of the season — and few, if any, expected to be in tanking mode — there are no viable options for the Warriors on the trade market right now, so the club is willing to be patient and let the market materialize, according to Slater.
We have more on the Warriors:
- The Warriors’ first win of the season, a 134-114 win at Denver on Monday, may have been the blueprint for how the team can succeed in the 2026-27 season despite missing several key contributors. Nick Friedel of The Athletic. As Friedel explains, Golden State got contributions from players up and down the roster against the Nuggets, starting with the star guard Stephen Curry (24 points on 8-of-8 shooting in 27 minutes) for such reserves George Niang (nine points), Gary Payton II (seven points), and Brandon Williams (six points, +14). “I like our list” head coach Steve Kerr – said after the victory. “I think we’re pretty deep … we’ve got some vets that can really play.”
- In a separate story for The AthleticFriedel takes a closer look at the connection between Curry and Draymond Greenlongtime Warriors teammates who have developed their own shorthand over the years. While they realize they won’t have many more years of playing together, Curry says knowing the end is near gives the duo more reason to appreciate the present. “Thoughts of the end only make the urgency of now more real and motivating, if you will, because that’s all we can control.” he said.
- The Warriors’ infamous “second timeline” plan focuses on continuing to contend for titles while developing future cornerstones such as James Wiseman and Jonathan Cumingait didn’t turn out the way the organization planned, but Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic I wonder if you are a beginner Yaksel Landeborg could help create a rebuild for the Warriors. Landeborg, who had 31 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in Monday’s win, already looks like a long-term staple for Golden State. “Adding Yaxel” Kerr said “and the ability to do something Jimmy (Butler) does — slows the game down, gets fouled, creates shots for himself or others — it’s a game-changer for us.”
