For the Golden State Warriors, it has been an okay start to the season, but the most frustrating part of the offseason came from their inability to sign any big-name players. One of the players Golden State did sign was veteran Kristaps Porzingis.
The seven-footer is known for his size, but also for his history of missing significant time due to injuries. Porzingis has not been around the team since training camp began.
“That has meant an out-of-sight, out-of-mind strategy when it comes to the ongoing absence of presumed starting center Kristaps Porzingis, who was re-signed this summer despite missing 90 games over the past two seasons with three different teams. Ever since Porzingis called out of work one day prior to training camp, the front office instructed Steve Kerr to strategize and prep his team as if Porzingis was a nonfactor,” ESPN’s Anthony Slater wrote.
With it being highly unlikely that Porzingis plays this season, or perhaps ever again, the Warriors are trying to find a trade partner.
“Golden State has started exploring trade routes for Kristaps Porzingis, who is now seriously contemplating his future in basketball as he deals with recurring symptoms from the autoimmune condition termed as POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), sources tell ESPN," ESPN's Shams Charania posted.
Through the first week of the season, it has become clear that Golden State is undersized. Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale believes the Warriors could trade for Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren.
“Perhaps Aday Mara is so good so fast that the Oklahoma City Thunder end up rethinking their monster commitment to Chet Holmgren amid an expected belly flop into second-apron territory next season,” Favale wrote.
Holmgren would be a great replacement for Porzingis, as he is younger and the Warriors would have control over him for the next few seasons. Holmgren also already has championship experience.
Holmgren is currently on a $239 million contract with the Thunder. The Warriors are in major need of size, and acquiring Holmgren would be a significant addition. It would also benefit Steph Curry tremendously. All of this would need to happen when he recovers from his injury of course.
