Warriors cut off Porzingis' $20M pay in ugly salary saga

Kristaps Porziņģis might never play another NBA game, and the Golden State Warriors are making sure he doesn't get paid for it. According to the New York Post ^[1], the team has stopped delivering payments on his $20 million salary, ruling that the 31-year-old center is not rendering services. This bold move marks a sharp escalation in a saga that has been getting uglier by the day.

ESPN reported ^[2] that league sources confirmed the Warriors are withholding semimonthly payments to the veteran. The organization has shifted his status from "out with general illness" to "not with team," a deliberate designation that strips him of excused absence protections. Porziņģis has been dealing with a mystery illness and has openly contemplated retirement, leaving his future in the Bay Area in serious doubt.

NBA insider Shams Charania noted in the New York Post ^[1] that Golden State can move his contract at any point before the Feb. 11 deadline, even without current payments. The front office, led by General Manager Mike Dunleavy, is actively pursuing trade avenues. ESPN ^[2] noted that rival teams could absorb Porzingis' near-expiring deal to save money or clear roster spots via buyouts, though finding a taker for a player who might retire is a tall order.

The Warriors have no plans to void his contract, maintaining flexibility until the deadline. However, the relationship appears strained. After a meeting with Dunleavy and lead medical decision-maker Rick Celebrini in early October, the team issued a statement that Porziņģis would return to the facility. He left and hasn't come back. The Warriors expected him to be around teammates during recovery, but that didn't happen.

Interestingly, the Warriors have won five straight games after an 0-3 start, suggesting the team is adapting well without him. The precedent for this financial standoff isn't new; the Miami Heat withheld payments from Terry Rozier during his gambling investigation last season, also exploring trades. Whether Porziņģis will challenge the Warriors' decision remains unclear. If he does, this already messy situation could turn into a full-blown legal battle. For now, the ball is in his court, and the Warriors are betting that a $20 million expiring contract is the only carrot they need to trade him out.