The Golden State Warriors are not considering voiding Kristaps Porzingis’ contract despite his indefinite absence, according to a team source cited by Danny Emerman of The San Francisco Standard on Sunday, November 1. The 7-foot-2 center has not been with the team since informing the front office of a health issue the day before training camp.
Emerman reported that Porzingis’ absence is creating frustration within the organization, although the team has kept details of his condition private. ESPN previously reported that the 12-year NBA veteran was “seriously contemplating” his basketball future.
The Warriors announced on October 14 that Porzingis had met with general manager Mike Dunleavy and head of performance staff Rick Celebrini at Chase Center. A week later, the team said it did not anticipate him being around the team in the immediate future.
Golden State re-signed Porzingis despite his health concerns after he played 15 games for the team last season, averaging 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 23.7 minutes. He shot 43.3% from the field and 31.1% from three-point range.
His absence has left the Warriors with Draymond Green and Al Horford as their primary options at center. Green is 36, while Horford is 40. Charles Bassey and two-way player Graham Ike have also entered the rotation.
Golden State is 5-3 through eight games in the 2026-27 season. Bassey is averaging 6.8 points and 5.0 rebounds in 11.5 minutes, while Ike has contributed 5.8 points and 2.7 rebounds in 11 minutes per game.
Porzingis is owed $23 million in guaranteed salary, including $3 million guaranteed for 2027-28. His contract remains trade-eligible, but the Warriors face restrictions because they are approximately $300,000 below the second apron and cannot take back more salary than they send out in a trade.
A buyout would require mutual agreement between the player and the team. Porzingis has little financial incentive to surrender guaranteed money, while waiving him would leave Golden State responsible for his remaining salary.
The Warriors also cannot use the waive-and-stretch provision during the season, as the deadline for that mechanism was August 31. A disabled player exception would require an independent doctor to rule Porzingis out for the season, and the team’s second-apron restrictions would limit its usefulness.
Porzingis last played on April 15. Under the medical-retirement process described by Emerman, the Warriors would have to wait a full year after his last game before formally petitioning the NBA for a career-ending medical designation.
