Warriors expect newly acquired Kristaps Porzingis in L.A.; clearance to play could come soon
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The Golden State Warriors plan to welcome veteran center Kristaps Porzingis in Los Angeles on Friday night, one day before their matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers, head coach Steve Kerr said Wednesday.
Kerr indicated it is unlikely the 7-foot-3 big man will receive final medical clearance in time for Saturday’s game, but he projected Porzingis would be “back on the court and in a key rotation spot soon.”
Porzingis, 30, has appeared in only 17 games this season while managing postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and, more recently, left Achilles tendinitis. Kerr stressed that director of sports medicine Rick Celebrini and his staff completed extensive evaluations before green-lighting the deal that sent Porzingis to Golden State at Thursday’s trade deadline.
“I don’t think we would’ve made the trade if we didn’t think he could be healthy and consistent in the lineup,” Kerr said. “When he’s right, he’s a helluva player.”
Deadline pivot ends in two-team swap
The Warriors pursued Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo ahead of the deadline but shifted focus after Milwaukee made clear Golden State’s offer fell short. Attention turned to Porzingis, whose $30.7 million expiring contract had been on the team’s radar since early January.
League sources told ESPN that Porzingis was initially discussed in a three-team framework involving the Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks that would have moved Anthony Davis to Atlanta and Jonathan Kuminga to Dallas. That concept dissolved after Davis suffered a hand injury.
Hours before the deadline, Golden State and Atlanta finalized a simpler transaction: Kuminga and Buddy Hield went to the Hawks in exchange for Porzingis. No draft picks changed hands.
Warriors eye playoff push despite injuries
Golden State enters Thursday at 27-24, eighth in the Western Conference. The club is still absorbing the loss of Jimmy Butler, who tore the ACL in his left knee last week.
“We still have a good team,” Kerr said. “Even without Jimmy, we can make a playoff run. The ceiling is absolutely lower. I’m not going to sit here and lie.”
For now, the Warriors will wait for Porzingis to clear the final medical hurdle, hoping his combination of size, range, and rim protection arrives in time to bolster a reshaped roster heading toward the stretch run.
Source: ESPN
