Stephen Curry and the Warriors face a major setback as Kristaps Porzingis contemplates leaving basketball

The NBA is officially back with the Detroit Pistons , Philadelphia 76ers , and Oklahoma City Thunder earning the first wins of the season over the Boston Celtics , the champions New York Knicks , and runner-ups San San Antonio Spurs respectively.

With 11 more games on the docket today, among the most compelling matchups are the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Miami Heat and the Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers .

For the Lakers, this marks the official beginning of a completely new era without LeBron James on the roster, featuring sweeping personnel changes under the full command of the reigning NBA scoring leader, Luka Doncic .

For the Warriors and Stephen Curry , the year seems like a long one following a quiet offseason, made more challenging as Jimmy Butler remains sidelined until 2027 and Kristaps Porzingis has no definitive timetable to return as Golden State actively explores potential trade partners.

Warriors Explore Trade Options for Kristaps Porzingis

According to reports from ESPN , the Golden State Warriors are pursuing possible trades for veteran center Kristaps Porzingis as uncertainty surrounding his NBA future continues ahead of their season opener against the Lakers tonight.

According to ESPN, the 31-year-old is considering retirement as he continues to struggle with the condition known as POTS ( postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome ).

Porzingis signed a two-year, $40 million extension last summer, with just $3 million of his salary for next season guaranteed.

The Milwaukee Bucks are among the teams that have been contacted recently by Golden State about a potential Porzingis deal , according to a league source who spoke under condition of anonymity to describe ongoing deliberations.

While the Bucks are not believed to have any interest in Porzingis, it’s as clear a sign as any that the Warriors are searching for a solution to the Porzingis problem.

Since the start of the 2024-25 season , he has played in just 74 games and has played more than 60 games only twice in his career.

For a thin frontcourt roster like the Warriors, a trade appears imminent as they seek essential reinforcements to maximize the remaining years of Stephen Curry's prime.