When the Golden State Warriors opened their regular season Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers, center Kristaps Porzingis was officially listed on the injury report as simply “not with team.” Behind that brief designation lies a complex roster crisis that has rapidly shifted from a medical recovery effort to active trade exploration, ESPN reported.
League sources told ESPN that Porzingis is dealing with lingering effects from postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, an autonomic disorder known as POTS. The condition causes an abnormally rapid heart rate when standing and can produce dizziness, fatigue and respiratory difficulty. The health battle has become serious enough that the 31-year-old veteran is weighing whether he can continue playing professional basketball, according to ESPN.
A contract tailored for movement
In response to public reports, the Warriors issued a statement Wednesday saying they “are not going to comment on trade speculation or reports regarding his health-related matter or future,” adding that they do not anticipate Porzingis being around the squad in the immediate future. Yet front-office activity across the league indicates Golden State is already canvassing the market. The Athletic reported Wednesday that the Warriors contacted the Milwaukee Bucks about a possible trade, though Milwaukee is not believed to have interest.
The dilemma highlights the calculated financial planning Golden State executed over the summer. In June, General Manager Mike Dunleavy signed Porzingis to a two-year, $40 million extension. Crucially, the deal included no pay raise from the first season to the second, keeping him eligible for immediate trades without having to wait until mid-December, ESPN reported. Furthermore, only $3 million of his $20 million salary for the 2027-28 campaign is guaranteed, effectively turning the pact into an expiring contract.
As NBC Sports noted, that salary structure allows Golden State to pitch Porzingis as salary ballast to rival teams looking for payroll relief next summer. Any acquiring club could waive Porzingis following the season to clear significant cap space while absorbing draft compensation from the Warriors to facilitate the swap.
On-court plans unravel
The situation represents a steep departure from Golden State’s original competitive vision. Acquired at the trade deadline last season, Porzingis averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks across 15 games with the franchise, NBC Sports reported. Team brass had slotted him to start alongside Draymond Green and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg this fall.
However, early warning signs emerged in late September. Team sources told ESPN that Porzingis appeared distant and uninterested during scrimmages at a player workout hosted by Jimmy Butler in San Diego. Just days before training camp opened, Porzingis informed Dunleavy that ongoing symptoms from the virus he originally contracted during his tenure with the Boston Celtics were resurfacing, prompting an indefinite absence.
The Warriors can ill afford dead weight on their payroll. With Butler returning from a torn ACL, Bleacher Report noted that leaving a $20 million salary slot idle severely hampers Golden State’s depth in an unforgiving Western Conference. While Dunleavy still holds an ample collection of future first-round draft picks, rival executives are traditionally hesitant to execute major transactions on opening night before evaluating their own rosters.
Porzingis addressed supporters on social media last week, writing that he is consulting with medical specialists to resolve health issues that “you can’t exactly pinpoint.” Whether those medical consultations result in an eventual recovery or a permanent retirement, Golden State’s immediate priority has clearly shifted toward salvaging a critical roster spot before the season slips away.
