Porziņģis Steps Away: Warriors Move On, Trade Talk

A day after Kristaps Porziņģis said he is stepping away from basketball to prioritize his health, the conversation around the Golden State Warriors has shifted to what comes next. Veteran forward Draymond Green said the locker room has already “moved on,” coach Steve Kerr has said he is focused on the players he has, and reports describe a front office that has been making trade calls involving the 31-year-old center’s contract.

This article summarizes published sports reports about a player’s health. It is not medical advice.

What did Porziņģis announce?

In a social media post on Friday, Porziņģis said his body “didn’t respond the way I anticipated” as he ramped up for the season, according to The Associated Press via NBA.com. “I’m doing good, but I know what it takes, and I’m not where I want to be to perform at the level I expect from myself,” he wrote. “At this point, I’ve made the decision to prioritize my health and step away from the game I love.”

The AP noted that he did not reveal the nature of the health issue and did not make clear whether he will resume playing. He said he plans to work with the Warriors to “find a solution that makes sense.” Porziņģis, the No. 4 overall pick by the New York Knicks in 2015, was on his sixth team in 11 seasons.

What did Draymond Green say?

Green told The Athletic’s Sam Amick that the team is not dwelling on the situation, Yahoo Sports reported.

“No one’s sitting around bashing this guy or even worried about him, for that matter. In our minds, we’ve moved forward with the players that we have here,” Green said. “We know what type of player he is. But I don’t think anyone in here is sitting around waiting on him to walk through that door.”

Green said general manager Mike Dunleavy briefed players on the situation before the season opener and again last week. He framed it as a “next man up” moment and pointed to center Charles Bassey and undrafted rookie Graham Ike as players with something to prove. “You can’t sit and worry about spoiled milk,” Green said, per Yahoo Sports.

How has Steve Kerr handled it?

Kerr said on 95.7 The Game last week that the team was “caught off guard,” NBC Sports Bay Area reported. “We were in communication with him over the summer, and it seemed like everything was in a good place right up until training camp,” Kerr said. “And then obviously things went south.”

He added that he checks in with Porziņģis occasionally, likes the team’s young bigs, and considers roster decisions “Mike’s and the front office’s” responsibility.

Is there a reported illness?

Neither Porziņģis nor the Warriors has publicly described the current health problem, Yahoo Sports noted. Porziņģis has a history with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a chronic condition that can affect the nervous system, the outlet said. Any link between that history and his current absence has not been confirmed by the player or the team.

What about a trade?

Reports have described Golden State exploring options for weeks. NBC Sports Bay Area said ESPN’s Shams Charania reported two weeks ago that the team was exploring trades involving Porziņģis, and that the Warriors have not been paying his $20 million salary for this season.

ClutchPoints, citing reporting from The Athletic and The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer, said Golden State has contacted Milwaukee and Chicago:

Team	Reported angle
Milwaukee Bucks	Myles Turner discussed as a possibility; Fischer reported the Warriors would want draft capital or other incentives to take on Turner’s contract
Chicago Bulls	Jalen Smith seen as a potential short-term option; the Bulls’ rebuild and new lottery rules complicate a deal

Fischer reported the Warriors may have to wait until mid-December, when many players signed last summer become eligible to be traded, to find a workable deal, according to ClutchPoints. These are reports, not confirmed negotiations, and the team has not commented publicly on specific talks.

How are the Warriors playing without him?

Golden State has not had Porziņģis for a single game this season. With him away, the Warriors have leaned on Al Horford as a backup center behind Green, along with Bassey and Ike, Yahoo Sports reported.

FAQ

Did Kristaps Porziņģis retire?

No. He said he is stepping away to prioritize his health, and the AP noted he did not make clear whether he will play again.

Are the Warriors trying to trade him?

Multiple reports say Golden State has made calls about deals involving his contract, but no trade has been announced.

What did Draymond Green say about Porziņģis?

Green said the team has “moved on” in its mindset and is focused on the players who are available.

Earlier coverage: Warriors' Kristaps Porziņģis Steps Away From Basketball to Prioritize Health (Nov 6)

After Porziņģis Steps Away, Warriors Say They've Moved On as Trade Talk Swirls