Warriors explore trading Kristaps Porzingis as the center stays away from the team

The Golden State Warriors are weighing what to do with Kristaps Porzingis, the center they re-signed in June, who has been away from the team since the eve of training camp while dealing with a health issue. Team sources are deeply pessimistic that he will play for Golden State again, ESPN's Anthony Slater reported Wednesday, and the front office has begun testing the trade market for his contract.

That search was first reported on opening night, Oct. 21, by ESPN's Shams Charania, who said Porzingis was seriously considering his future in basketball and that stepping away for good was possible if his health did not improve. The Warriors said that day they would not comment on trade speculation or on his health.

How it got here

Porzingis has said he has been dealing with the after-effects of an upper respiratory virus he contracted with the Boston Celtics two seasons ago, which he has described as a POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) diagnosis. Golden State acquired him from Atlanta in February in the trade that sent Jonathan Kuminga to the Hawks, and he played 15 of the team's last 20 games, averaging 16.1 points and 5.3 rebounds. That was enough for a two-year, $40 million extension in late June.

He called general manager Mike Dunleavy on the Sunday before camp to say he was taking an indefinite leave. After a meeting with Dunleavy and Rick Celebrini, the team's lead medical decision-maker, in mid-October, the Warriors said he would stay around the team. ESPN reported he has not been back to the facility, and the team now lists him as "not with team" rather than ill, a change Slater described as deliberate.

What the Warriors can do

The contract was built with this risk in mind. Only $3 million of the $20 million owed next season is guaranteed, which makes it close to an expiring deal, and it was structured so that he could be traded immediately rather than after Dec. 15. According to ESPN, the options are:

• Trade the contract. The preferred route, ESPN reported, is a small deal using a minor asset to bring back a usable player now, while keeping the flexibility to make a bigger move at the deadline. Late October is a quiet time for trades, and Dunleavy has found no obvious partner yet.
• Void the deal. His absence could be treated internally as a failure to render services, which has been discussed, but that route is complicated unless he chose to retire and return the money.
• Wait. A buyout in which he gave back a large share of the salary would make the contract more attractive to a trade partner later.

The Warriors are $20.4 million into the luxury tax, ESPN reported; clearing Porzingis' salary would erase nearly all of that bill.

Playing without him

Coach Steve Kerr was told before camp to plan as if Porzingis would not be available, and the Warriors have gone small. Draymond Green, 36 and listed at 6-foot-6, started at center on opening night, and two-way rookie Graham Ike has started twice when the Warriors needed size. Al Horford, in his 20th season, is limited to about 20 minutes a game, and journeyman Charles Bassey has filled in off the bench. The lineup of Green, Yaxel Lendeborg, Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski and Gui Santos is plus-22 in its minutes so far.

Curry, asked about Porzingis after the opening loss, stressed the human side of it. "It's a hard one for all reasons," he said.

The Warriors are 1-3.