The Golden State Warriors want Kristaps Porzingis back but are pushing for a shorter contract at a lower salary than the $30.7 million he earned during the 2025-26 season, according to Anthony Slater of ESPN.
Porzingis became an unrestricted free agent after completing a two-year, $60 million contract. The Warriors acquired him from the Hawks on Feb. 5 in a deal that sent Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga to Atlanta, and Golden State has been negotiating with him since the end of the NBA Finals.
“There is growing momentum toward a deal to bring Porzingis back,” Slater reported, while noting that the Warriors prefer a reduced-rate agreement rather than matching his previous salary.
The move would allow Golden State to retain a frontcourt player who gave the team another offensive dimension alongside Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler. In 15 games with the Warriors, Porzingis averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 23.7 minutes per game.
Porzingis’ impact was limited by efficiency during his brief Warriors stint. He shot 43.3% from the field and 31.1% from three-point range after the trade, although he remained a difficult matchup because of his 7-foot-2 frame, shooting range and ability to protect the rim. He averaged 1.1 blocks per game with Golden State.
The Warriors finished the 2025-26 regular season 37-45 and entered the Play-In Tournament as the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference. Their roster remained built around Curry, who averaged 26.6 points on 46.8% shooting and 39.3% from three, while Butler contributed 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists in his first season with the team.
For Golden State, keeping Porzingis would be about balancing veteran production with financial flexibility. The Warriors already carry significant salary commitments around Curry, Butler and other veterans, making a large multi-year deal for Porzingis a potential obstacle for future roster moves.
