The aging Golden State Warriors enter this season hoping to at least be in the mix for playoff contention. However, they were hit with troubling news on Wednesday as reports emerged that veteran big man Kristaps Porzingis is seriously contemplating retirement due to health issues.
NBA insider Shams Charania reported on Wednesday that the Warriors have started shopping Porzingis, who is now seriously contemplating his future in basketball as he deals with recurring symptoms from the autonomic condition known as POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome).
Porzingis signed with the Warriors on a two-year, $40 million deal but has been away from team activities due to these recurring medical issues. He has not practiced with the team in training camp nor appeared in any preseason games. It only makes sense that the Warriors will look to explore trade options, as they want to remain competitive in the dwindling window of the Steph Curry era.
While many have speculated on who Golden State could target, Milwaukee-based podcaster Ti Windisch suggested Bucks center Myles Turner as a viable candidate to keep an eye on.
“Keep an eye on Myles Turner to Golden State as an option here. Warriors have nearly all of their picks and clearly desired a stretch 5 to pair with Curry/Draymond,” Windisch wrote on X.
NBA insider Evan Sidery also reported that the Warriors had reached out to Milwaukee about Turner in a potential trade.
Golden State could certainly use a skilled big man like Turner. He is someone who can stretch the floor and protect the rim, making him an intriguing player for them to take a chance on. The 11-year NBA veteran has also proven to be a reliable option throughout his career, playing over 70 games in each of the last three seasons.
He is coming off a solid campaign for the Bucks, averaging 11.9 points and 5.3 rebounds in 71 games. Furthermore, at just 30 years old, Turner is well-rounded enough to be an ideal fit for the retooling Warriors should they make a move.
Warriors Could Face Steep Price in Potential Myles Turner Trade
The Golden State Warriors will need to package more than just Kristaps Porzingis to trade for Myles Turner from the Milwaukee Bucks. League salary rules make this tricky, forcing Golden State to add extra players and draft picks to make the money work.
Because Porzingis makes $20 million, the Warriors are at least $6.58 million short of matching Turner’s $26.58 million contract for the 2026-27 season. To fix this gap, Golden State needs a player like Moses Moody, whose $12.50 million contract makes the deal financially legal under NBA rules.
Golden State could also consider younger players such as Will Richard, who is on a rookie contract, or Gui Santos, whose salary is around $5 million. However, including Moody and future draft picks would make the deal costly for the Warriors.
It remains unclear whether Golden State is willing to pay that price or whether Milwaukee would be interested in acquiring Porzingis. The next couple of days could provide a clearer picture of how the potential trade discussions develop.
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