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Warriors Withhold Porzingis' Salary Amid Health Issues
Confirmed
In Short: The Golden State Warriors are withholding payments to Kristaps Porzingis on his $20 million salary, ruling that he isn't rendering services to the team.
The Golden State Warriors have stopped paying Kristaps Porzingis his $20 million salary, according to Shams Charania. The team contends that Porzingis is not rendering services to the organization due to his indefinite absence.
Porzingis signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the Warriors over the summer, with the hope that he could stay healthy and productive. However, his absence has created a unique situation for the team.
Porzingis has been sidelined indefinitely due to an undisclosed health issue, which includes a diagnosis of POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome). The Warriors have not commented on his health status beyond confirming his indefinite absence.
The NBA Players' Association has no plans to dispute the lack of payments, and Porzingis himself is not actively disputing the withholding of his salary. This decision allows the Warriors to explore trade options without having to pay him.
General manager Mike Dunleavy and the Warriors' front office are actively pursuing trade avenues, but the team is reluctant to take on a sizable multiyear contract unless it clearly enhances their future prospects.
For rival teams, absorbing Porzingis' near-expiring contract could allow them to move a longer-term salary out to save money or potentially net a draft asset, depending on what the Warriors are willing to attach in a trade.
The Warriors are approximately $300,000 below the second apron, which restricts their ability to take back more salary than they send out in a trade. This situation creates an opening for another franchise to absorb Porzingis' contract.
In the 2021-22 season, the Philadelphia 76ers withheld nearly $20 million in salary from Ben Simmons when he refused to report to training camp or suit up for the team. The Warriors are following a similar approach with Porzingis.
What this adds
The Warriors' decision to withhold Porzingis' salary is a strategic move to maintain trade flexibility and manage their financial constraints.
What's confirmed
- According to Shams Charania, the Warriors are no longer paying Porzingis his $20 million salary, ruling that he isn't rendering services to the team.
- "The Warriors are not delivering payments to Kristaps Porzingis on his $20 million salary, ruling that he is not rendering services," Charania tweeted.
- General manager Mike Dunleavy and the Warriors' front office are still actively pursuing trade avenues utilizing Porzingis' contract even as the 31-year-old leans toward ending his NBA career.
What's still developing
- Via: IMAGO April 15, 2026, Inglewood, California, USA: Kristaps Porzingis 7 of the Golden State Warriors during warm ups prior to their NBA, Basketball Herren, USA Play-In Tournament game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday April 15, 2026 at Intuit Dome Arena in Inglewood, California.
- "When a player refuses to play or is away from the team without organizational approval, the team has the right to withhold portions of their salary or place funds into an escrow account," Siegel wrote.
- " Porzingis doesn’t want to challenge Warriors’ stance right now."
- This will allow that team to shed a larger, less desirable salary of its own while taking on a deal that’s unlikely to require real money paid to Porzingis himself.
- ESPN's Bobby Marks noted that Porzingis is losing $218,341 per game due to his failure to render services, and his salary still counts against the cap and tax apron.
- The Warriors in a statement on Kristaps Porzingis’ status say “they are not going to comment on trade speculation or reports regarding his health-related matter or future” but concede that they “are not anticipating Kristaps being around the team in the immediate future.” pic.twitter.com/HzBoFclkER Porziņģis re-signed with the Warriors this summer on a two-year, $40 million contract that pays him $20 million this season and has a $3 million guarantee for 2027-28.
- In a press release, the Warriors said they signed Tyler Burton "in a related move."
- According to It’s only been 16 years since Joe Lacob led an investment group that, using an exploding offer, shockingly purchased the Golden State Warriors for $450 million.
- Every all-in-one stat is going to have blindspots and needs to be taken with a large grain of salt, but both teams Porzingis played for last season — the Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors — were much better with him on the court in his 32 total games, and that’s no coincidence.