Warriors predicted to cut ties with Kristaps Porzingis in favor of $179 million ex-Nuggets star
· Yahoo Sports
Warriors predicted to cut ties with Kristaps Porzingis in favor of $179 million ex-Nuggets star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Golden State Warriors’ 2025-26 season isn’t over yet, as they’ve already clinched a Play-In spot and technically still have a chance to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June.
Visit mchezo.co.za for more information.
However, it’s highly unlikely the banged-up Dubs make a significant postseason run this year, making it logical for fans to begin preparing for the offseason sooner than they likely expected.
If the Warriors want to have a productive offseason, Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley has a hunch that swapping Kristaps Porzingis for a former Denver Nuggets star forward is a move that should be on Golden State’s radar.
“Would it be reckless for a team as badly in need of youth and athleticism as the Warriors to trade out of this loaded lottery,” Buckley wrote Sunday.
“Maybe, but if the goal is competing at the highest possible level for however long Stephen Curry sticks around, who would help more: a lottery pick, an oft-injured Porziņģis and the inconsistent Podziemski, or Porter, a 6'10" scoring forward with a career 49.3/39.8/81.2 slash line?”
“Porter's per-game numbers with the (Brooklyn) Nets and his pay rate are both inflated, but that may not matter to Golden State. Not when it has a standing need for spacing so long as Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green are still around. Not to mention a nagging itch for scoring assistance for Curry, who, before being sidelined by a pesky knee problem, was shouldering his heaviest usage rate in five seasons—in his late-30s.”
Buckley’s blockbuster trade proposal would send Porzingis (sign and trade) and the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft to the Nets for Porter. The Warriors had their eyes on Porter during the 2025-26 trade season, but opted to go in a different direction.
With free agency being closer than many realize, it would be wise for the seven-time NBA champions to explore a deal for the proven 6-foot-10 veteran to help Curry and give the franchise another three-point-oriented wing.
Porter is averaging 24.2 points per game on 46.3% field goal shooting and 36.3% three-point shooting with the Nets this season. Golden State shouldn’t hesitate to target the Missouri product again in the upcoming months.
More NBA: Warriors linked to $101 million Lakers four-time NBA Finals MVP in offseason