Warriors Halt Kristaps Porzingis' Salary but Keep Contract to Explore Trades Ahead of Deadline

Despite suspending Kristaps Porzingis' biweekly paychecks after ruling he is not rendering services, the Warriors have no intention of voiding his contract so they can attempt to trade it ahead of the February 11 deadline.

Financial tensions have officially collided with roster management in the Bay Area.

The 31-year-old center remains away from the team three weeks into the regular season.

ESPN insiders Shams Charania and Anthony Slater reported that the franchise has halted payments on the big man's $20 million salary.

"The Warriors are not delivering payments to Kristaps Porzingis on his $20 million salary, ruling that he is not rendering services," Charania reported on X.

Under normal league protocol, NBA players continue collecting guaranteed pay while dealing with severe medical issues or injuries.

Golden State, however, determined that Porzingis' ongoing absence constitutes a refusal or failure to fulfill contractual requirements.

Instead of terminating the deal outright, the Warriors have chosen an uncommon strategic route.

The organization is keeping the contract active on its books to preserve trade flexibility.

"Golden State is permitted to move his contract at any point before the Feb. 11 deadline even without paying him currently, and will continue exhausting trade avenues as the 31-year-old leans toward ending his NBA career," Charania wrote.

AN UNRESOLVED ABSENCE IN THE BAY

The dispute follows an offseason defined by total uncertainty surrounding the veteran center.

Porzingis signed a two-year, $40 million contract extension with Golden State back in June.

That commitment came shortly after the Warriors acquired him from the Atlanta Hawks in a February blockbuster involving Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield.

Porzingis suited up for just 15 games in a Golden State uniform before the offseason arrived.

Trouble began when the former All-Star failed to report for training camp in the fall.

Porzingis had taken an indefinite leave of absence from basketball activities prior to camp.

He has not been seen around team headquarters following a brief meeting with team executives and the medical staff before opening night.

To justify halting his paychecks, the front office made a deliberate administrative adjustment to his roster status.

Golden State initially classified his absence on official league documents as a "general illness."

Team officials later changed that designation to "not with team."

That technical shift removed the formal medical justification for his ongoing absence.

It gave the front office the contractual grounds to declare he was no longer rendering services to the organization.

HEALTH CONCERNS AND RETIREMENT TALK

Porzingis has spent the last year and a half confronting significant personal health challenges.

The Latvian star has previously dealt with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, widely known as POTS.

POTS is a complex disorder affecting the body's autonomic nervous system.

The condition can trigger severe fatigue, sudden spikes in heart rate, and chronic dizziness.

Porzingis first experienced these health complications following an illness during his tenure with the Boston Celtics.

Neither Porzingis nor the Warriors have confirmed that POTS is the exact medical reason keeping him away today.

However, reports indicate the veteran big man is now strongly considering walking away from basketball entirely.

Porzingis has not yet released a formal public announcement regarding his retirement.

Yet his indefinite departure and physical limitations have effectively ruled him out for the season.

Surprisingly, the decision to halt his earnings has met no formal pushback from Porzingis' camp.

Sources close to the player confirmed that neither Porzingis nor the National Basketball Players Association plans to challenge Golden State's withheld salary.

The players' union typically fights any unilateral salary withholding by a franchise.

Its refusal to file a grievance highlights the unprecedented nature of Porzingis' current standoff.

AL HORFORD SPEAKS OUT ON HIS TEAMMATE

Inside the Golden State locker room, players are navigating the emotional side of Porzingis' sudden absence.

Warriors veteran center Al Horford addressed the situation following a recent team practice.

Horford shared a close bond with Porzingis during their shared time with the Boston Celtics.

The two frontcourt partners played two seasons together in Boston, culminating in the 2024 NBA championship.

Horford revealed that he has maintained occasional communication with his longtime friend.

"I've been able to touch base with him a little bit, not very much, some texts here or there," Horford said.

Horford emphasized that he refuses to reveal sensitive details out of respect for Porzingis' privacy.

"That's really it," Horford added about their brief text exchanges.

"It's been a few weeks now."

Horford made it clear that he stands completely behind his teammate during this difficult period.

He noted that he will wait patiently for Porzingis to explain his circumstances to the public on his own terms.

TRADE FLEXIBILITY AND CONTRACT MECHANICS

While personal sympathy remains high, Golden State's front office must address cold financial reality.

General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. is aggressively exploring ways to leverage Porzingis' contract before February 11.

Porzingis' deal remains a unique financial asset despite his absence from the court.

Even though the Warriors are withholding biweekly disbursements, the $20 million salary still counts against the team's cap sheet.

That cap figure gives Golden State a massive matching salary to use in potential multi-team transactions.