The Sweeping Impact Of Warriors' Kristaps Porziņģis Gamble

The sweeping impact of Warriors' Kristaps Porziņģis gamble originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

There was too much possibility and hope and potential for the Warriors to dismiss Kristaps Porziņģis, a 7-foot-3 center whose talents would add immense value to their roster. A healthy Porziņģis is an All-Star.

So, they weighed the substantial risk that would come with signing the 7-foot-3 center barely an hour into NBA free agency. They couldn’t wait. Didn’t want to wait. Neither did Porziņģis.

And now the Warriors are paying the steep price that always was conceivable.

Porziņģis, who missed Golden State’s entire preseason with an undisclosed illness, reportedly considering whether he’ll ever play basketball again. He almost certainly has seen the last of his brief connection with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and the rest of the Warriors.

“The Warriors have egg on their faces,” a Western Conference executive told NBC Sports Bay Area Wednesday morning.

Though the Warriors in recent days have privately questioned whether Porziņģis would return, they weren’t ready to give up on the possibility. His offensive skills – 3-point shooting, crafty passing, massive length – would have made him one of the lead characters in the revised offensive scheme under coach Steve Kerr.

Porziņģis, 31, would bring strong value to the defense, too. When associate head coach Frank Vogel, who will coordinate the defense, commented on KP’s potential impact Monday, there was so much trepidation that it felt he was crossing all his fingers.

“That’s obviously the big answer,” Vogel told NBC Sports Bay Area. “We’re still hopeful to have him back, but we’ll see. But that size? You can’t teach size, right? And I’ve always excelled at coaching bigs, working the angles and the commitment to rim protection and doing it without fouling. Doing it non-recklessly. I feel like I could do a lot with him in our defensive system if we’re able to get him back.”

Two days later, the Warriors are basically giving up on having Porziņģis, who might be giving up on his career.

The worst outcome, no KP at all, has landed at the feet of the Warriors. They are now exploring paths to shed the two-year, $40 million contract – $20 million this season, only $3 million guaranteed next season – he signed less than four months ago.

Before Porziņģis played one game, or participated in one practice.

This is a hit to the “five-out” offense that Kerr is committed to implementing. It’s a hit to the explosive partnership that would have been Curry-Porziņģis. It’s a hit to Green, who gets an automatic and not entirely embraced boost in minutes at center.

It’s a hit to, above all, the Warriors being the team they wanted to be this season.

Golden State’s health/performance chief, Dr. Rick Celebrini, was going to have his hands full trying to manage KP through the regular season in hopes of reaching the playoffs. It was a plus that Porziņģis in March expressed full confidence in Celebrini’s restorative powers.

All signs point to those powers being directed elsewhere on a roster that, frankly, will keep Celebrini plenty busy. The most delicate member of the team has one foot out the door. Retirement would surprise no one.

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