Why Warriors Re-Signing Kristaps Porzingis Would Be a Good Move

Kristaps Porzingis didn't get a full chance to show what he could do in Golden State last season.

The 30-year-old center played just 15 games for the Warriors after being acquired from the Atlanta Hawks at the February trade deadline in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield, but what he showed in that small window was encouraging enough to build on.

Now there's real traction toward a reunion.

ESPN's Anthony Slater reported that there is "growing momentum" toward Porzingis returning to Golden State, with the Warriors looking to bring him back on a short-term deal at a reduced rate from the $30.7 million he earned last season.

Even in a limited stretch, Porzingis flashed the exact skill set that works next to Stephen Curry.

He averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game with the Warriors while giving them a legitimate floor-spacing center who could also protect the rim, and that two-way versatility from a 7-foot-2 frame is hard to find anywhere else on the market.

For a Warriors team that went 37-45 and lost in the Play-In Tournament, having a big who can stretch the floor and play above the rim next to Curry and his 26.6 points per game changes the offensive equation.

Porzingis has dealt with durability questions throughout his career, and his diagnosis of POTS only adds to those concerns.

He appeared in just 32 total games between Atlanta and Golden State this past season.

But when he was on the court, the pairing with Curry and the rest of the roster showed real promise.

GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. said publicly that the organization values Porzingis and sees him as a piece of the puzzle, and Porzingis himself told reporters back in April that he felt the same way about being there.

"I do love my time here," Porzingis said. "Not one bad thing I can say about the organization, the team, the teammates."

The complication is Golden State's ongoing pursuit of LeBron James.

The Warriors could use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception to offer James around $15 million, but doing so would hard-cap the team at the first apron and leave very little room for Porzingis on top of Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green's existing salaries.

If James takes the mid-level and Green picks up his $27.7 million option, the math gets extremely tight.

Per Slater's reporting, though, the Warriors are operating under the assumption that James will return to the Los Angeles Lakers for his 24th season.

They aren't building the offseason around that possibility, which is wise because if the LeBron pursuit falls through, having Porzingis locked in on a team-friendly deal becomes even more important for a franchise still trying to compete around Curry's remaining prime.

A short-term prove-it contract works for everyone involved.

Porzingis gets a chance to show he can stay on the floor, and Golden State holds onto a high-upside center without overcommitting financially during one of the most uncertain offseasons in recent franchise history.