NBA trade rumor: Golden State Warriors could bid farewell to $40 million star following news of concerning health that could end his NBA career

The Golden State Warriors are exploring a Kristaps Porzingis trade, according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater. The 31-year-old has not played this season while dealing with a private health issue, and the team now lists his status as “not with team.” Slater wrote that team sources hold an “extreme level of pessimism” that the center will play for Golden State again.ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Porzingis is contemplating his future in basketball. His two-year, $40 million extension, signed this offseason, guarantees only $3 million next season. No return timetable has been reported. Golden State is 1-3, sits two games behind the Lakers in the Pacific Division and faces the 3-1 Timberwolves on the road next.CategoryDetailsPlayerKristaps Porzingis, center, 31Current TeamGolden State Warriors (1-3, fourth in the Pacific)Rumored TeamNone reportedContract StatusTwo-year, $40 million extension signed this offseason; $3 million guaranteed next seasonSalary Cap Hit$20,000,000Trade LikelihoodSlim, per Slater; quiet market in late OctoberLatest Insider UpdateSlater (ESPN): Warriors are exploring trade options. Charania (ESPN): Porzingis is contemplating his future in basketballWhy the Warriors want a Kristaps Porzingis tradeGolden State acquired Porzingis from Atlanta on Feb. 5 for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield, according to Spotrac. Availability has been the issue since. He missed the start of camp with a health issue, and ClutchPoints reports the cause appears to trace to an upper respiratory viral illness from his time with Boston. Charania ties his recurring symptoms to postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.The team changed his listing from “general illness” to “not with team,” a shift Slater described as deliberate. Slater also reported the front office has discussed whether staying away from the facility counts as a failure to provide services, which could support an attempt to void the whole deal. Voiding it would bring complications unless Porzingis retired and returned the money, Slater wrote.ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel puts the Warriors’ sidelined money at roughly $90 million, about 40 percent of payroll.Kristaps Porzingis trade chances and contract detailsSlater reports the odds of a deal are slim. Under the league’s new anti-tanking rules, few teams would send out a usable player for a minor asset this early in the season, he wrote. Mike Dunleavy has gauged the market, league sources said, though front offices usually wait until January and February for bigger moves. Golden State is also reluctant to attach first-round picks.Porzingis is owed $20 million this season and has $3 million guaranteed next year. Slater wrote that the Warriors are willing to wait and let the market form, and that a buyout giveback would make the expiring $20 million more attractive to a partner. Spotrac lists a restriction that bars Golden State from sending him back to Atlanta until Feb. 5, 2027.The roster gives the Warriors room to wait. Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody are injured, and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg had 31 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in Monday’s win in Denver. Slater described a semi-rebuild that is giving young players more room. ESPN lists Charles Bassey and Al Horford as the other centers.Kristaps Porzingis trade value in stats and career historySplitGPMINPTSREBASTBLKSTLFG%3P%FT%2025-26, all teams 322416.75.22.51.20.644.633.884.22025-26, Warriors only 2324174.82.71.50.745.134.282.5Career 53330.319.57.61.91.80.74636.483Porzingis was the No. 4 pick in the 2015 draft by the Knicks and is in his 12th season, per ESPN. He has 533 career games and averages 19.5 points. Spotrac’s injury log lists ACL-related knee absences across 2017-18 and 2018-19, plus five separate illness absences between October 2025 and March 2026.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.