The Golden State Warriors have begun exploring trades of center Kristaps Porziņģis, who remains away from the team and is "seriously contemplating his future in basketball," ESPN’s Shams Charania reports.
Porziņģis has been away from the Warriors since before training camp, and Charania's report confirms he is still dealing with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS. People with this condition see their heart rate race for a minute or more after standing up from sitting or lying down (as part of the disorder, more blood stays in your lower body even after a person stands, causing the heart rate to race as it tries to get blood flowing again). This condition has limited Porziņģis' ability to play for a couple of seasons.
Porziņģis signed a two-year, $40 million contract extension with the Warriors last offseason, but only $3 million of the 2027-28 season is guaranteed, essentially making him an expiring contract. Golden State is looking into packaging Porzingis (mostly as salary ballast) with players or picks to bring in someone of value in a trade. Teams that acquire Porziņģis would very likely waive him next summer, as they'd get the financial savings plus the real draw of whatever the Warriors add to the trade package.
Porziņģis came into the Warriors' practice facility last week to discuss his situation with team doctors and management. Afterward, he posted this on X.
I appreciate all the internet doctors trying to diagnose and help, but I'm in the best hands. So everyone can relax now and I don’t have hiv or aids.
— Kristaps Porzingis (@kporzee) October 14, 2026
Golden State acquired Porziņģis at last year's trade deadline, envisioning him as a stretch big who can protect the rim and fit very well next to Stephen Curry. Porziņģis played in 15 games for Golden State last season and averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. Based on that, the Warriors bet on Porziņģis this summer and gave him an extension.