Kristaps Porzingis isn’t ready to play (or even train). Absent from the Golden State Warriors’ training camp due to what the franchise describes as a private health issue, he will finally be seen around the facilities this Tuesday, but make no mistake—don’t count them out just yet.
According to ESPN, the Latvian center’s return will begin with an immediate meeting with Rick Celebrini, the Warriors’ chief medical officer. From there they will have a clearer sense of what they’re facing with a player on whom they placed high hopes, but who appears far from delivering the two-year, $40 million contract they handed him.
The only certainty is that they don’t know when he’ll be able to return to the court. Two seasons ago, Porzingis contracted an upper respiratory virus while with the Boston Celtics; since then, he has endured lingering effects that have reduced his capacity to play consistently in the NBA. Last season he appeared in 32 games, the previous one 42…
As we were saying, in San Francisco they have backed him, but with guardrails. Thus, for the 2027-28 season only 3 of the 20 million signed are guaranteed; in other words, it would cost them almost nothing to part ways with him and save a substantial sum of money.
Kerr’s Plan Without Kristaps Porzingis
While Porzingis has maintained regular contact with Celebrini and the Warriors’ front office, they have told head coach Steve Kerr to approach the season as if the frontcourt player’s availability is uncertain.
Under such a scenario, Kerr leans toward assembling a smaller starting five, so the 2022 champions could begin the 2026-27 season with the following lineup: Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, Yaxel Lendeborg, and Draymond Green.
