TITLE: Warriors weighing Porzingis future; Melton hints at opting out; Santos steps up amid injuries
SLUG: warriors-evaluate-porzingis-melton-option-santos-role
CONTENT:
Golden State continues to assess Kristaps Porzingis as the 2026 offseason approaches, with the veteran center on track for unrestricted free agency unless an extension is reached before July. Team officials have spent recent weeks analyzing the Latvian’s fit, while Porzingis, 30, considers whether to stay in the Bay Area.
Porzingis said Thursday that his experience with the Warriors has been positive, praising director of sports medicine and performance Rick Celebrini for helping manage his health. “Rick is the GOAT, man,” Porzingis remarked after practice. “I’m very happy with these guys, and I’m sure they will keep me on the same path.”
The 7-foot-3 big man has appeared in seven of the club’s past nine contests and believes he is nearing clearance to play in back-to-back sets. Golden State has two such stretches remaining — April 1–2 and April 9–10. “I think it’s a conversation,” he said. “I’m doing pretty good and recovering well. The better I feel, the better I start to look. I’ll probably earn more minutes and then … the next step is to get a chance on a back-to-back.”
Porzingis has yet to share the floor with Stephen Curry, who has missed time since late January with a knee injury. The 12-time All-Star guard’s status for the closing weeks of the season remains uncertain.
Melton leaning toward free agency
Combo guard DeAnthony Melton, 27, holds a $3.5 million player option for 2026-27 but indicated on 95.7 The Game’s “Steiny and Guru” show that he expects to decline it. “I’ve been in this league a decent amount of time — eight years is a lot,” Melton said Thursday. “You want to get rewarded for your services.” Should he opt out, Golden State would have only Non-Bird rights, limiting the franchise’s ability to match outside offers.
Santos fills crucial wing void
Second-year forward Gui Santos has become the Warriors’ lone natural wing after Jimmy Butler’s torn ACL in January and Moses Moody’s season-ending patellar tendon tear. The 23-year-old delivered a career-best 31 points in Wednesday’s win over Brooklyn and is quickly validating the three-year, $15 million extension he signed on Feb. 29.
Free-throw focus
With the roster thinned, Golden State is emphasizing trips to the foul line down the stretch. Porzingis believes his post-up game against smaller defenders can generate those opportunities. “It does slow the game down, but sometimes that’s what we need,” he explained. “I feel like that’s an advantage we can get.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
