Despite playing limited games and keeping quiet publicly, internal signals point to a significant update emerging about the future of Kristaps Porziņgis, and the Warriors might be associated with it.

A March 27 report from Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area notes that Porziņģis is “enamored” with the Warriors and is already considering re-signing with the team this summer.

He has not made a public declaration about his free agency plans. The idea of him re-signing comes from early impressions over his first 7 weeks in the Bay Area. He will become a free agent soon.

One of the massive factors behind this decision is Porziņģis' evolving trust in the Warriors’ medical team, led by Dr. Rick Celebrini. He recently said, “Rick's amazing. Rick is the goat, man. Really. I'm very happy with these guys, and I’m sure they will keep me on the same path.” 

He had previously called the staff "super supportive." He noted they gave him "peace of mind" and left him feeling he was in the "best hands."

Stephen Curry is another major reason. Porziņģis explained the offensive impact, saying, “He has changed the game. To be on the same team, just to be around him, even without playing, it's pretty cool. 

The Warriors acquired Porziņģis at the Feb 5 trade deadline for clear reasons. They wanted to gain value from his expiring $30.7 million contract. This season alone, he went from the Celtics to the Hawks, and finally to Golden State. 

What Could Be Porziņģis’ Final Decision This Summer

Steve Kerr wants to see a long-term fit. On March 17, Kerr said, “I think the whole point in trading for him a couple weeks back was that we get the end of this season to make a run, to see what he can do, see what we can do with him and pair him with Steph.” 

Whenever given a chance, Porziņģis production is steady. With Atlanta and the Warriors this season, he averages 17.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. However, he has played limited games due to Achilles tendinitis and a recent illness. 

The financial aspect will dictate the negotiations. Porziņģis previously signed a 2-year, $60 million extension with the Boston Celtics. His current expiring salary is around $30.7 million. 

There were some rumors about the Hawks trading him while he was dealing with a prolonged illness. Now, there are no exit rumors. 

The mutual interest is very real right now. The final decision will depend on his durability and on-court performances. What do you think about Porziņģis staying in the Golden State? 

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Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Souvik Roy