Warriors begin exploring trades for Kristaps Porzingis as he weighs his future

The Warriors have begun exploring trades for sidelined center Kristaps Porzingis, who is seriously contemplating his future in basketball while dealing with recurring symptoms of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), Shams Charania reports. If there is no breakthrough in his recovery, Porzingis might choose to retire.

Porzingis is eligible to be traded even though he signed a two-year, $40 million extension this summer, Bobby Marks notes. His salary for next season is only partially guaranteed, for $3 million. Golden State is hard-capped at the second apron and cannot take back more salary in any trade. Any team interested would mainly be looking to shed long-term salary, since the Warriors could waive him next summer for only a $3 million cap hit.

The Warriors announced a week ago that Porzingis would be out indefinitely because of health issues. He missed all of training camp and the preseason, after Golden State signed him to be its starting center. Anthony Slater says Porzingis has once again stepped away from the team.

Porzingis has dealt with a series of injuries and illnesses, including POTS, which he revealed last October. He was still effective last season when he played. The Warriors were 6.4 points per 100 possessions better with him on the court. In 32 games for Golden State and Atlanta he averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 blocks in 24.0 minutes per game. Golden State acquired him in February in the trade that sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to Atlanta.