Warriors predicted to cut ties with Kristaps Porzingis in favor of $179 million ex-Nuggets star
Warriors planned 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 your preferred source by clicking here.
The Golden State Warriors’ 2025-26 season isn’t over yet, as they’ve already clinched a Play-In berth and technically still have a chance to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June.
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However, it is very unlikely that the struggling Dubs will make a significant playoff run this year, which makes sense that fans would start preparing for the offseason sooner than expected.
If the Warriors want to have a productive offseason, Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley feels like trading Kristaps Porzingis for a former Denver Nuggets star is a move that should be on Golden State’s radar.
“Would it be unwise for a team as badly in need of youth and athleticism as the Warriors to trade this loaded lottery,” Buckley wrote Sunday.
“Maybe, but if the goal is to compete at the highest level possible for as long as Stephen Curry is around, who would help more: a lottery pick, an oft-injured Porziņģis and the inconsistent Podziemski, or Porter, a 6’10” forward with a career slash line of 49.3/39.8/81.2?”
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“Porter’s per-game numbers with the (Brooklyn) Nets and his salary rate are both inflated, but that may not matter to Golden State. Not when he has a perennial need for spacing as long as Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green are still around. Not to mention a lingering itch for scoring assist for Curry, who, before being sidelined by a pesky knee issue, was carrying his highest usage rate in five seasons – in my late thirties.
Buckley’s blockbuster trade proposal would send Porzingis (sign and trade) and the No. 11 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 chose to go in a different direction.
With free agency closer than many think, 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 percent field goal shooting and 36.3 percent three-point shooting with the Nets this season. Golden State shouldn’t hesitate to target the Missouri product again in the coming months.
NBA: Warriors tied to Lakers’ four-time NBA Finals MVP with $101 million in offseason
