The Golden State Warriors took a risk in trading Jonathan Kuminga for Kristaps Porzingis at the deadline, and so far, that gamble hasn’t paid off, as the Latvian center has played just one game in the last month and is currently dealing with a mystery illness with no direct timeline for a return.
However, while the latest Porzingis update could signal that the big man could be getting closer to a return, he remains out and is only becoming a growing issue for the Warriors as it relates to this season and next.
Yet still, when talking about the team’s plans for Porzingis, who in the last year of his contract and set to be a free agent this summer, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy dropped a bold quote about his future.
Story with @RamonaShelburne on Porzingis and his uncertain future
Mike Dunleavy: “We see him as more than a rental.”
“We see him as more than a rental,” Dunleavy said, according to Anthony Slater and Ramona Shelbourne of ESPN. “We feel he can help our team this year, better our playoff position, and then moving forward fits what we are looking for.”
Porzingis was seen warming up before the Warriors’ latest game against the Houston Rockets, but still has no official return date or timeline as he deals with the mystery illness.
Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy On Kristaps Porzingis
While Golden State attempted to make trade deadline moves for bigger-name players, they ended up making a deal for Porzingis after a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade fell through. According to the team, they knew the center had some major health concerns, but took the risk regardless.
“The simple answer on that for me is I heavily rely and trust our medical group,” Dunleavy told ESPN. “So when they look at the stuff and they say, ‘We’re good, we feel comfortable with what we’re dealing with,‘ then I’m on to the next thing from a basketball standpoint. So for that reason, we collectively are good with the decision and will go from there.”
However, despite how comfortable the Warriors were with trading for Porzingis, they only continue to get bad news on the trade deadline acquisition.
While he was previously reported to be dealing with P.O.T.S., ‘an autonomic condition that can dramatically increase heart rate and cause dizziness and fatigue,’ there has been mixed reporting on that since arriving in Golden State, as head coach Steve Kerr walked back previous comments saying that he wasn’t recovering from that specific illness.
“It was a stupid mistake by me to talk about something that I’m not qualified to talk about,” he said. “I regret even trying to discuss the diagnosis. That was my mistake. I need to leave that to professionals.”
Here is the full soundbite on his status
But what is clear is that Porzingis is dealing with something, as it’s kept him out for the team’s last six games.
Still, Dunleavy thinks trading for him was the right move, despite the injuries to players like Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry that the team is currently facing.
“In a perfect world, I would’ve loved to have Jimmy with him as well,” Dunleavy said. “But I think it works with or without Jimmy.”
Porzinigis is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but with Dunleavy’s comments, it’s fair to say the Warriors will at least discuss the idea of resigning him to a new contract over the summer.
Kristaps Porzingis Mystery Illness Update
In Slater’s article quoting Dunleavy about Porzingis’ future with the team, he also included multiple quotes from the player himself wanting to get back on the court as soon as possible, despite dealing with what has been characterized as a mystery illness.
“Honestly, as quickly as possible,” Porzingis previously said. “Even if I am exhausted out there, I want to still push myself. … It’s always weird coming back after a while, but I’ve had my ups and downs in my career and I’ve been out for a bit and I’m kind of pretty good at jumping right back in.”
But, in what is some good news, the latest Porzingis update could signal the center is on the verge of a return. Slater previously reported that he is traveling on Golden State’s current road trip, and while he didn’t play on Thursday, he did warm up before the Houston game.
On Thursday, Kerr also commented on Porzingis’ status.
“No timeline but he is on the trip and he is going to get a workout today and we’ll just take it day by day from there. It’s great that he’s here and great that he’s feeling well enough to be on the trip and hopefully that bodes well for him playing soon,” the coach said. “He was on the court yesterday morning possibly before the flight. Don’t quote me on that. I know I am going to get myself into more trouble. I think he’s been on the court.”
When he’s healthy, Porzingis is a very impactful player on both sides of the court as a three-point shooting threat and rim protector. However, the illness has clouded any potential impact on this Warriors team, as he remains out.
Per Slater, Porzingis has sat out in 110 games in the last two and a half seasons.
The Latvian will have the chance to get back on the court on Saturday against the Oklahoma City Thunder or Monday against the Utah Jazz. For now, he, Curry, and a few others remain out for Golden State, as they continue to look set for yet another Play-In Tournament appearance.
Warriors Reveal Major Kristaps Porzingis Announcement Amid Mystery Illness