Kristaps Porzingis signed a new two-year, $40 million contract with Golden State at the end of June and was expected to be the starting center for Steve Kerr’s team. Four months later, the Latvian has yet to play a game this season, his return remains uncertain, and the Warriors are trying to find a way to trade him. According to Eurohoops, the club has suspended his salary payments, which amount to a guaranteed $20 million this season, although Golden State has not officially confirmed taking such action.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported that there is significant pessimism within the organization about the possibility of the 31-year-old center playing for the Warriors again. Porzingis has been dealing for some time with health issues related to postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), which can cause severe fatigue, dizziness and other symptoms. Because those symptoms have returned, Shams Charania reported that Porzingis is even considering the possibility of ending his professional career.
In mid-October, Golden State announced that Porzingis had spoken with general manager Mike Dunleavy and Rick Celebrini, who oversees the club’s medical and performance staff. At the time, the Warriors said he would remain around the team while recovering, but only a week later another statement followed, saying he was not expected to be with the team for the foreseeable future.
His designation on the official absence report was also changed from an illness-related status to “not with team.” According to ESPN, the organization has discussed the possibility of treating Porzingis’ absence as a failure to fulfill his contractual obligations.
Can Golden State Stop Paying His Salary?
The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement allows a player’s salary to be reduced for each missed game if he fails to meet his obligations without a valid reason. In Porzingis’ case, that would amount to approximately $218,000 per game. A medical condition by itself, however, would not be grounds for such a penalty, so any potential dispute would depend on the circumstances surrounding his absence and whether he was fulfilling his obligations to the team’s medical staff.
Although the two-year deal is worth $40 million in total, only $23 million is guaranteed to Porzingis. He is guaranteed $20 million for the current season, while only $3 million of the additional $20 million for 2027-28, which is a player option, is guaranteed. If he is waived before July 7, 2027, whichever team holds his contract would be able to avoid the remaining $17 million commitment for the following season.
That makes Porzingis’ contract potentially attractive to teams looking to reduce future salary commitments. Golden State structured the extension in a way that allows him to be traded immediately, without having to wait until mid-December.
According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Golden State has already contacted Milwaukee, but the Bucks showed no interest. Potential trade partners could also demand draft compensation for taking on the contract of a player whose return to the court remains uncertain.
Moving Porzingis Would Save Money but Cost Golden State a Trade Asset
According to ESPN, Golden State is approximately $20.4 million above the luxury-tax line. If the Warriors were able to remove Porzingis’ entire salary from their books, they would significantly reduce their tax bill, but they would also lose a $20 million contract that can currently be used to bring back another player in a trade.
Porzingis arrived from Atlanta in February in a trade that sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Hawks. He played 15 games for the Warriors late last season, averaging 16.1 points and 5.3 rebounds. That production was enough for the front office, despite his known health issues, to decide to extend his contract.
Kerr is now relying primarily on Draymond Green and Al Horford at center, while Charles Bassey and Graham Ike are also receiving opportunities. None of them was expected to be Golden State’s starting center when the club decided to extend Porzingis’ contract this summer.