Warriors stop paying Porzingis while he sits out
Golden State is withholding semimonthly payments to the veteran center as it continues to seek a trade partner before the February deadline.
By Fatima Saleh ·
The Golden State Warriors have stopped sending semimonthly payments to Kristaps Porzingis, according to league sources. The team is withholding the funds because the 31-year-old center is not currently rendering his services on the court.
General Manager Mike Dunleavy and the front office are actively looking for trade options that use Porzingis' contract. They are trying to find a rival team willing to absorb his near-expiring salary. Such a move could allow a new owner to swap out a longer-term commitment to save money or clear a roster spot. In some scenarios, the Warriors could also receive a draft asset in return.
This financial pause follows a difficult start to the relationship. Porzingis signed a two-year, $40 million extension with Golden State this summer. Only $3 million of the second season is guaranteed. He spent the previous two seasons battling a prolonged health issue. Just before training camp began, he called Dunleavy to step away from the team. The Warriors initially gave him space but expected him to return to the facility to see teammates and medical staff.
Tensions rose in early October after a meeting between Porzingis, Dunleavy, and Rick Celebrini, the team's lead medical decision-maker. The organization issued a statement declaring he would be present at the facility. That arrangement did not hold. Porzingis left and has not returned. The Warriors changed his official status from "out with general illness" to "not with team," a deliberate shift in language that signals this is no longer a standard excused absence.
The team has no current plans to void the contract, according to team sources. They intend to keep their trade flexibility open until the February 11 deadline. Porzingis is not disputing the lack of payments, league sources said. The situation mirrors a previous incident with the Miami Heat, which withheld payments from Terry Rozier during a federal investigation in 2025. The Heat also explored trades for Rozier's contract before the deadline.
Despite the absence of their veteran center, the Warriors have found success on the floor. They opened the season with a 0-3 record. Since that start, the team has won five consecutive games.
