Warriors Ponder Replacing Injury-riddled Kristaps Porzingis With Standout Big Men

It’s no secret the Warriors need to acquire an impactful big man.

While it hasn’t been a month since the NBA season started, Golden State appears to be aware of its deficiencies and is looking into fixing them.

According to NBA insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, he’s heard rumors of the Warriors being interested in Norman Powell but isn’t buying into it. He mentioned two potential players.

“Wendell Carter Jr. … from the Orlando Magic, a possible guy [they] could look to salary dump, to free up some cap space on their end,” Siegel said.

“Then also, Naz Reid with the Charlotte Hornets. He was traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Charlotte Hornets this past offseason,” Siegel said. “Obviously he’s had a ton of suitors between the Warriors, the Portland Trail Blazers. A few other teams mix out there.”

As the Warriors are expected to search for a big man, the irony is that last season the organization thought it solved its problem when it made a splash at the trade deadline and acquired Kristaps Porzingis. Golden State gave him a two-year, $40 million contract extension over the offseason.

Before this season began, Porzingis announced he would be out indefinitely due to a mystery illness.

Because Porzingis might never play in the NBA again, Golden State must pivot.

Last week, NBA insider Shams Charania reported the Warriors are not paying Porzingis because “he is not rendering services.”

With a little more financial flexibility, Golden State could pull off a deal to get Carter. He is making $18.1 million this season and will make $19.6 million next season, while having a team option for the 2028-2029 season.

Reid is in the second year of a five-year, $125 million contract he originally signed with the Timberwolves.

Reid will make $23.3 million next year, $25 million the following, $26.7 million for 2028-2029 and has a player option of $28.4 million for the 2029-2030 season.