The Golden State Warriors made their biggest move of the trade deadline on Thursday. They sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis. The deal closed the door on Kuminga’s development arc in the Bay Area. It opened a new championship window for a franchise trying to maximize what remains of Stephen Curry‘s prime years.
The trade came together after Golden State’s pursuit of Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo fell short at the deadline. The Warriors pivoted to Porzingis, a 7-foot-2 center with championship experience. He brings the kind of size Golden State has lacked throughout its dynasty years.
One voice mattered more than most in assessing the move. Draymond Green has won four championships with the Warriors. He knows exactly what it takes to build a title contender.
Green Explains What Porzingis Brings to Warriors
GettyKristaps Porzingis has been traded to the Golden State Warriors.
Green spoke with ESPN after the trade became official. His assessment was direct. He made clear what Porzingis addresses for a Warriors roster that has struggled defensively and lacked interior presence all season.
“I like it. Add more size, more rim protection, more shooting,” Green said. “He was the missing piece to the Boston championship.”
That last line carries weight. Porzingis helped the Boston Celtics win the 2024 NBA championship before being traded to Atlanta last summer. Green watched that title run closely. His evaluation suggests he sees similar potential for Golden State.
The pairing between Green and Porzingis addresses complementary needs. Green operates as the Warriors’ defensive quarterback, directing rotations and switching across positions. Porzingis provides the rim protection and verticality that allows Green to roam more freely. He knows someone is protecting the paint behind him.
Offensively, Porzingis stretches the floor in ways few big men can. He was averaging 17.1 points and 5.1 rebounds this season before his last game on January 7. His ability to shoot from distance creates driving lanes for Curry. It opens up the Warriors’ motion offense in ways that weren’t possible with a traditional center.
Why Green’s Endorsement Matters
Green’s approval of the trade carries significance beyond his role as a veteran voice. He was reportedly involved in trade discussions himself before the deadline. The Warriors explored various scenarios that could have included moving their defensive anchor as part of a larger deal for Antetokounmpo.
Those talks never materialized into anything serious. Green remains with the only franchise he’s ever known. His public enthusiasm for the Porzingis acquisition suggests he’s bought into the Warriors’ plan for the remainder of this season and beyond.
The endorsement also matters because Green will be responsible for integrating Porzingis into Golden State’s defensive system.
Porzingis gives them the rim protection they’ve lacked. But that advantage only materializes if Green and Porzingis develop chemistry on that end of the floor. Green’s excitement about the trade suggests he sees how the fit can work.
Warriors Show Resilience Without Their New Addition
GettyPat Spencer has been a diamond in the rough for the Golden State Warriors this year.
The Warriors didn’t have Porzingis available for Thursday night’s game against the Phoenix Suns. They were also without Curry due to a knee issue. That left Golden State dangerously shorthanded against a Suns team fighting for playoff position in the Western Conference.
The Warriors fell behind by 14 points in the fourth quarter but rallied to win 101-97. Pat Spencer scored a career-high 20 points. Gui Santos added 18 points including a go-ahead layup in the final minute. The comeback victory kept Golden State in eighth place in the West. It demonstrated the depth that remains on the roster even after trading Kuminga.
The performance also showed what the Warriors can accomplish when role players step up. That will be necessary if Porzingis misses additional time. He hasn’t played since early January due to left Achilles tendinitis and complications from postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. While the Warriors expect him back soon, his injury history raises questions about availability.
Final Word
Green’s endorsement of the Porzingis trade reflects his confidence that the Warriors made the right move. His reference to Porzingis as the missing piece from Boston’s championship run suggests he believes the center can fill a similar role in Golden State.
The challenge is keeping Porzingis healthy. He’s missed 100 games over the past two and a half seasons, including 35 this year alone. The Warriors conducted thorough medical evaluations before completing the deal. But no amount of due diligence eliminates the risk entirely.
If Porzingis stays on the court, the fit makes sense on both ends. He provides the rim protection and floor spacing that Golden State has needed since losing key pieces from their championship core. Green’s ability to orchestrate the defense improves dramatically when he has a legitimate rim protector behind him.
The Warriors sit at 28-24. They’re locked into another play-in tournament appearance for the third consecutive year. That’s not where the franchise hoped to be at this stage of Curry’s career. But the Porzingis addition gives them a legitimate upgrade over what they had before the deadline.
Whether that upgrade is enough to make a legitimate playoff run depends almost entirely on health. Green clearly believes the pieces are in place if everyone stays available. The next two months will determine whether his optimism was justified.
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