Warriors' Kristaps Porziņģis steps away from basketball over ongoing health problems

Kristaps Porziņģis has stepped away from basketball, and his future with the Golden State Warriors may be over before he ever played a game for them. The 31-year-old center said Friday that he had chosen to "prioritize my health and step away from the game I love," according to CBS Sports. He gave no timeline for a return, and nobody can say yet whether he will play again.

Porziņģis signed a two-year, $40 million deal last summer, but only $3 million of the second year is guaranteed. He has not appeared in a game this season and has been away from the team since late September. ESPN reported that he called general manager Mike Dunleavy two days before the first practice to say he would not report. He came in for a meeting in early October, then left the team again. ESPN also reported that the Warriors have stopped paying his $20 million salary, and that neither Porziņģis nor the players' association is challenging that.

His health problems go back to a viral illness he picked up in Boston two seasons ago. He has since disclosed a diagnosis of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, which can bring on extreme fatigue and dizziness. Across his last three seasons, with the Celtics, Hawks and now the Warriors, he has played 74 games. In his statement he said he wants to work with Golden State to find a solution that makes sense for both sides. CBS Sports noted the club has explored trading his contract, which works as an expiring salary and could be used to match money in a larger deal.

For now the move mostly confirms what the rotation already reflected. The Warriors planned to use Porziņģis as a floor-spacing big while Jimmy Butler (torn ACL) and Moses Moody (torn patellar tendon) recover. Instead, rookie Yaxel Lendeborg has taken that role and is averaging 21 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists through nine games while shooting 39.6% from three, per CBS Sports.

What it means against Orlando

Golden State hosts the Orlando Magic on Saturday at 6-3. After opening with three straight losses, to the Lakers, Memphis and Phoenix, the Warriors have won six in a row. That run includes road wins at Denver and Minnesota and a 120-100 home win over Miami last time out. Over the streak they have won by an average of more than 13 points. Only the 116-113 win over Phoenix came down to the end.

The board for Saturday's game has the Warriors favored across 12 venues. Novig has Golden State at -223 on the moneyline and -6.5 on the spread at even money. Orlando is +217 at Novig and +218 at Pinnacle, the best price anywhere, so the venues are only a point apart on the underdog. On the spread, Orlando +6.5 is -104 at Novig and -103 at Pinnacle. The total sits at 221.5 at Novig, while other books range from 219.5 to 222.5. Sportsbook hold on the moneyline runs from 2.9% to 5.5%.

Porziņģis's announcement doesn't change Saturday's matchup. What it does settle is that the Warriors' frontcourt plan for this season runs through Lendeborg. Any help from Porziņģis's contract is more likely to arrive through a trade than on the court.