Warriors stop paying Porzingis, saying he is not rendering services

The Golden State Warriors are not delivering semimonthly payments on Kristaps Porzingis' $20 million 2026-27 salary, ruling that the absent center is not rendering services, league sources told ESPN's Shams Charania and Anthony Slater on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Porzingis, 31, signed a two-year, $40 million extension with Golden State this summer, with only $3 million guaranteed in year two. He stepped away on the eve of training camp after calling general manager Mike Dunleavy. After an early-October meeting with Dunleavy and Rick Celebrini, the team's lead medical decision-maker, the Warriors said he would be around the facility. That did not last. Porzingis left, has not returned since early October, and the club shifted his status from "general illness" to "not with team."

The Warriors still have no current plans to void the contract and can trade him before the Feb. 11 deadline even while withholding pay, ESPN reported. Absorbing the near-expiring deal could let a rival dump longer-term salary, save money and clear a roster spot through a buyout, depending on what Golden State attaches. Dunleavy's front office is still shopping trade avenues while Porzingis leans toward ending his NBA career.

Porzingis is not actively disputing the missed payments, and the NBPA is not planning a dispute either, per league sources. ESPN's Bobby Marks noted that failure to render services costs him $218,341 per missed game (1/91.6 of the salary) and that the $20 million still counts against the Warriors' cap and tax apron.

Hoops Rumors and NBC Sports separately confirmed the withholding and the trade-window framing after Charania and Slater's report. The club has won five straight after an 0-3 start with Al Horford, Charles Bassey, Draymond Green and Graham Ike carrying the frontcourt in Porzingis' absence.

What to watch

The next real developments are a trade before Feb. 11, a buyout that leaves Porzingis some of the $20 million, or a retirement decision that ends the standoff. Until one of those lands, Golden State is keeping the contract live for trade flexibility while not cutting the checks.