Kristaps Porzingis has played a grand total of three games in a Golden State Warriors uniform since he was acquired from the Atlanta Hawks ahead of the trade deadline. And yet, he's already begun to make a significant impact on this team and its long-term ceiling. 

Porzingis has unfortunately dealt with some bizarre and limiting health issues recently. His prolonged illnesses have kept him off the court for much of the last year-plus. But the way he has impacted the game in just three games as a Warrior prove what kind of difference-maker he will be going forward. 

When asked where he's currently at in terms of comfortability with the rest of the roster, Kristaps was straightforward. 

"I think we're starting to develop a decent feel," Porzingis said. "I think guys are getting accustomed to playing with me. Like, knowing that I like to post up at the free throw line ... Starting to develop some two-man game ... So, I think it's a process, we're getting better for sure." 

The process of getting Kristaps to mesh completely with the rest of the roster is one that will no doubt take some more weeks to fully flesh out. So in that way, his usefulness to this team probably won't be fully realized until some time next season. 

But with that being said, these are all the early signs you want to see that indicate him being anything resembling a seamless fit further down the line. He's already clearly been working with the other guys at practice and been helping them come to understand what he's going to need to have his skills maximized. 

The free throw line post-up he mentioned is a perfect example of how his game can unlock things for Golden State's offense. When a seven-footer is operating with skill from that spot, it creates driving lanes for guards and collapses defenses in ways that open up shooters on the perimeter. 

That's certainly going to benefit this offense in the long run. Three games is a very small sample size, but the early returns have been encouraging enough to generate real optimism about what Porzingis' impact can be at full strength.

Draymond Green has already spoken openly about his excitement surrounding Golden State's bigger lineups, and Kristaps is the centerpiece of that vision. If the process continues to pan out and he stays healthy, the Warriors will have a real needle-mover on their side as they look to keep their postseason hopes alive. 

At the very least, Kristaps Porzingis will be a considerable weapon in this team's arsenal as they head into next season. The foundation is being laid right now, and the real payoff may be coming down the road.