Kristaps Porzingis to the Warriors. That is the move on the table tonight. My reporting confirms Golden State is finalizing a deal to land the 7-foot-3 stretch five, with Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield headed to the Hawks. Talks are in the final stage, and both sides are working through the last items.
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A bold pivot to maximize Stephen Curry
This is a win now swing. The Warriors are choosing size, shooting, and star power to lift Stephen Curry’s late prime. Porzingis gives Curry a pick and pop partner who pulls a big man 26 feet from the rim. That changes the geometry of every possession.
Think about the spacing. Curry comes off a screen, Porzingis fades, and a defense must pick poison. Blitz Curry and Porzingis gets a clean three. Stay home on Porzingis and Curry dances into daylight. It is simple math, and it suits both players.
Defensively, Porzingis protects the rim. He is long, he is patient, and he blocks or changes shots. Golden State has hunted for that presence for years. With Draymond Green directing traffic, Porzingis can sit near the paint, contest, then close a possession with his size on the glass.
The trade is not official until physicals and league approval are complete. Final terms, including possible draft pieces, can still shift.
What the Warriors gain, and what they give up
Porzingis is under contract through the 2025 to 2026 season, which gives Golden State short to midterm stability. He can stretch to the corners, lift to the slot, and hit from the top. He posts smaller players, and he punishes switches. He is a fit next to Curry because he can be a target at any spot.
The cost is real. Kuminga had grown into a two way force with elite tools. He is 22, strong, and hungry. Hield is one of the best movement shooters in the league. He sprints off pin downs and never stops. The Warriors are trading upside and a steady source of threes for a single big piece.
- What changes right away:
- More five out spacing and cleaner driving lanes
- A bigger target in pick and roll and pick and pop
- Better rim protection with fewer emergency rotations
- Less wing athleticism and less bench shooting depth
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Fit, usage, and the Curry timeline
Porzingis slides into the starting five as the stretch center. Expect early sets to feature high screens for Curry, with Porzingis lifting above the break. Look for ghost screens, quick slips, and trail threes in semi transition. Golden State will also post Porzingis on mismatches, then cut off him for layups.
In crunch time, the spacing should look clean. Curry on the ball, Porzingis at the arc, wings in the corners, and Draymond as a short roll hub. That lets Curry pick reads, and it gives Porzingis simple catch and shoot looks. The margin for error, which has felt thin the last two years, gets wider with a seven footer who can score from deep.
This is also a loud message about the franchise arc. The Warriors tried to split timelines. They developed youth while chasing banners. Tonight, they are choosing Curry’s window. This roster now tilts older, smarter, and more specialized. The goal is clear, push back into the top tier of the West, win a playoff series, and threaten the conference elite.
Health and availability will decide the payoff. Porzingis has battled injuries. Managing minutes and back to backs will matter.
The Hawks angle, and the league ripple
Atlanta lands a high ceiling forward in Kuminga and a proven spacer in Hield. That is a lot of athletic pop and shooting around their guards. For the Warriors, it means a bet that one star piece beats two strong rotation pieces when the games slow down.
Across the league, this move will spark counters. Opponents will rethink coverages against Curry. Teams with small fives will have to stretch or suffer. If Porzingis stays on the floor, Golden State just changed the look of late game basketball in April and May.
The bottom line
This is a gamble with a purpose. The Warriors are staking the next two years on Curry plus a modern stretch five. Porzingis gives them range, size, and a clear identity. They paid a steep price to get it. If the big man holds up, Golden State just bought itself more time at the top. If not, the cost will sting.
The deal is in motion. I will update details as they clear the final hurdles. For now, the message is simple. The Warriors are all in, again.
