Trading Kristaps Porzingis won't be easy for Warriors

The Golden State Warriors signed Kristaps Porzingis to an extension this summer that made him immediately eligible to be traded. Figuring out a trade for the absent big man is going to be difficult.

Porzingis is out indefinitely with more complications from his autoimmune disorder and is reportedly contemplating retirement. Can the Warriors expect to get a quality player in exchange for a big man who may not play?

Kristaps Porzingis trade limited by Golden State Warriors' salary limits

Porzingis signed an extension this summer for two years and $40M, but only $3M if that is guaranteed for 2027-28. For a team looking to dump long-term salary, taking on Porzingis' near-expiring contract could be appealing. That is, if they can make the salaries match.

Golden State has less than $350K of room below the second apron, where they are hard-capped as a result of using the taxpayer mid-level exception to sign Al Horford. That means they're limited to acquiring players who make the same salary or less than Porzingis' $20M this season.

The Warriors could add other players to a Porzingis deal, but they simply don't have a lot of useful salaries. Seven of the players they signed this summer can't be traded until Dec. 15. Stephen Curry, rookie Yaxel Lendeborg and the recently-extended Brandin Podziemski aren't going anywhere.

Golden State Warriors likely can't trade Kristaps Porzingis before December

Leaving aside the question of which teams would want to take on a $20M player who is considering retirement, it's hard to imagine the Warriors can match salaries for a Porzingis trade — perhaps for Myles Turner on the rebuilding Milwaukee Bucks — before Dec. 15.