SAN FRANCISCO – Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr did not have much new information regarding Kristaps Porzingis's health status, who general manager Mike Dunleavy said is “out indefinitely” at the team's media day.
Ahead of the Warriors' preseason matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers, Kerr was asked whether there were any updates on the Latvian center, who did not make the trip with the team to Hawaii for the Dubs' first week of training camp.
“No,” Kerr said, shaking his head.
Is he around the team at all?
“I haven't seen him yet, but we didn't have practice yesterday, and I just got (to Chase Center) a little while ago,” Kerr answered.
Is he in the Bay Area?
“I think so,” Kerr said. “I think he'll be around. But I haven't seen him yet.”
And after fielding a question about the Warriors' center depth, Kerr was then asked about his personal concern level for Porzingis's availability being unclear at this point– a player who has a history of extended absences due to bodily injuries and POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome).
“Yeah, I mean, we want him back,” Kerr said. “He's a really talented player, and so we thought that he was in a pretty good place. So it's definitely concerning, and as I said, all we're going to do is support him, give him every bit of medical help he can get, emotional support, and hope that he's back soon.”
One more Porzingis-health-related question for the Dubs coach: Was there something different you felt than when you're going through the evaluation process of re-signing him that popped up that you didn't know back then?
“Not that I know of.”
Kristaps Porzingis brings constant uncertainty for the Warriors
Article Continues BelowKerr's comments about Porzingis's status matched Dunleavy's, as the Warriors GM told reporters he couldn't disclose specifics about Porzingis's health. One of the few details Dunleavy did share was that he learned about Porzingis's issue the day before Media Day, suggesting it came on suddenly. But the cause of Porzingis's absence aside, the effect on the Warriors moving forward is potentially more significant.
Golden State inked Porzingis to a two-year, $40-million contract this past offseason, with a sizable $20-million cap hit incurring this season. However, the Warriors built a way into the second year of Porzingis' contract to get out of it. Porzingis is only guaranteed $3 million if Golden State were to waive him before July 7, 2027, effectively making him an expiring salary this season – if a team is willing to take a $3-million hit next season – and thus a potential trade chip if Golden State explores the open market at the trade deadline.
Porzingis played 17 games for the Warriors last season – including their two play-in games – after the team acquired him from the Atlanta Hawks for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield. In the regular season, the 31-year-old center averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 23.7 minutes.
When Porzingis was on the floor, the Warriors' dream of a stretch center next to Stephen Curry, in Kerr's high-volume 3-point shooting system, made sense. However, Porzingis missed six straight games after making his Dubs debut against the Boston Celtics on February 19 due to an “illness.” And after returning, Porzingis had to be managed game-to-game for the rest of the season with “lower back spasms.”
For now, Golden State will lean on its bevy of young, undrafted centers in Charles Bassey and Graham Ike until Porzingis can return to action.