Business of Sports · NBA
Report: Warriors Withhold Kristaps Porziņģis’ Pay While Pursuing Trade
ESPN reports Golden State is withholding payments on the center’s $20 million salary while keeping his contract available for a trade.
The Golden State Warriors are withholding semimonthly salary payments to Kristaps Porziņģis while continuing to pursue a trade involving the center’s contract, ESPN reported Wednesday.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Shams Charania reported that Golden State is withholding payments on his $20 million salary because the absent center is not providing his services.
The Warriors have no current plan to void Porziņģis’ contract. He is not actively disputing the missed payments, and the players association has no plan to challenge them, ESPN reported, citing league and team sources.
Porziņģis signed a two-year, $40 million extension with Golden State this summer. Only $3 million of the second season is guaranteed, according to ESPN.
The 31-year-old stepped away before training camp. After meeting with general manager Mike Dunleavy and Rick Celebrini, the team’s lead medical official, in early October, he briefly returned to the facility before leaving again. Golden State changed his listed status from general illness to “not with team.”
ESPN described Porziņģis as leaning toward ending his career, without reporting a retirement decision. The Warriors continue exploring trade possibilities with his contract.
