Warriors Explore Options to Trade Kristaps Porzingis

Trade talks begin

The Golden State Warriors have begun exploring trade routes for veteran center Kristaps Porzingis. He remains out indefinitely as he deals with a private health issue that has him seriously contemplating his future in basketball.

Porzingis signed a two-year, $40 million extension with the team in June. Only $3 million of the $20 million in the second season is guaranteed, which essentially makes it an expiring contract. The front office strategically designed the extension without a raise between the two seasons, keeping him immediately trade eligible instead of needing to wait until mid December.

Health struggles continue

Porzingis played in 15 of the team's final 20 games last season. Management believed he had an encouraging enough summer to pencil him in as the projected starting center next to Draymond Green and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg.

On the Sunday before training camp, Porzingis called general manager Mike Dunleavy to report that a health issue was still bothering him. He previously contracted an upper respiratory virus while playing for the Boston Celtics two seasons ago. He has termed it a POTS diagnosis, which can lead to dizziness, fatigue, and brain fog.

It has definitely been frustrating dealing with some health stuff that you can't exactly pinpoint, on top of injuries throughout my career, Porzingis wrote in an X post last week. So it has added up for sure, but we will get through it.