Warriors Exploring Trade Options for Veteran Center Kristaps Porzingis

The Golden State Warriors have begun exploring trade routes for Kristaps Porzingis, who is away from the team dealing with a POTS diagnosis.

The Golden State Warriors have begun exploring trade routes for veteran center Kristaps Porzingis, who remains out indefinitely while dealing with a private health issue. According to league sources cited by ESPN's Shams Charania, Porzingis is seriously contemplating his future in basketball. The center was listed as "not with team" for Wednesday night's season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Porzingis is currently under a two-year, $40 million extension signed in June. The contract was strategically designed without a raise between seasons to keep him immediately trade eligible. Only $3 million of his $20 million salary for the second season is guaranteed, effectively making the deal an expiring contract. General manager Mike Dunleavy and medical lead Rick Celebrini met with Porzingis last Tuesday in San Francisco, but the center has since started another indefinite leave of absence.

The health issue stems from an upper respiratory virus Porzingis contracted two seasons ago while playing for the Boston Celtics. He has termed the diagnosis POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), which causes fatigue, dizziness, and brain fog. Porzingis missed the entire preseason and the first two weeks of training camp after alerting the team of his condition on the Sunday before camp began.

Warriors management originally projected Porzingis as a starting center alongside Draymond Green and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg. Despite his absence, the team maintains a cupboard of first-round draft picks and several expiring contracts to facilitate a potential in-season trade strike. Porzingis played in 15 of the team's final 20 games last season before these recent health complications led to his current status away from the facility.