Warriors weigh Porzingis’ progress, roster futures amid play-in push
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Kristaps Porzingis is beginning to deliver the production Golden State hoped for when it acquired him at last month’s trade deadline. After sitting out six straight games with an illness, the 7-foot-3 center has appeared in five of the Warriors’ past seven contests, averaging 17.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.2 blocks and 1.2 steals in just 22.8 minutes per night.
“Now I’m healthy and actually feeling good,” Porzingis said. “I’m getting my legs back, getting into good shape, and it’s a good reminder why I love this. I think four or five more games and I’ll really be close to pretty good shape.” He estimated he is currently operating at about 60 percent of his peak level.
Front-office outlook
Head coach Steve Kerr told 95.7 FM’s “Willard and Dibs” on Tuesday that the organization envisions a long-term future with Porzingis, who will enter unrestricted free agency this summer. “The whole point in trading for him was that we get the end of this season to make a run, see what he can do with Steph [Curry],” Kerr said. “Ideally, he would re-sign and be an important player for us for many years.”
Porzingis echoed the sentiment, adding that he is eager to share the floor with Stephen Curry once the two-time MVP returns from a right knee injury. “Oh man, this is the GOAT,” he said after Monday’s win in Washington. “The gravity he brings opens everything up for everybody else.” Team officials remain cautiously optimistic that Curry could be back later this month.
Guard DeAnthony Melton, who holds a minimum-salary player option for 2026-27, also indicated interest in remaining with the club. “I feel like I’ve expressed countless times how much I love Golden State,” the 27-year-old said on “Willard and Dibs,” while adding that he is taking his situation “day by day.”
Play-in positioning
Wednesday’s defeat—Golden State’s sixth loss in seven outings—dropped the Warriors to 10th in the Western Conference. Kerr conceded the team is now effectively locked into the play-in tournament. “We’ve had our eyes on six for a while. That’s out of the question now,” he said. “If we can string together some wins and get to eighth, that’d be ideal. But we’re not getting to seven.”
Injury updates
Kerr sounded less optimistic about Moses Moody’s availability on the current road trip. The second-year wing has missed eight consecutive games with a right wrist sprain, and no timetable for his return has been established.
Source: Hoops Rumors
