The Golden State Warriors hope a healthier Kristaps Porzingis can give the front-court the rim protection and spacing it lacked for most of last season.
The 7-foot-3 center arrived from Atlanta at the February trade deadline but appeared in only 15 regular-season games. He missed 16 others because of illness and assorted injuries.
Porzingis still produced when available, averaging 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 23.7 minutes. He looked sharp in a play-in win over the Clippers before ankle soreness limited him to 15 minutes in the decisive loss to Phoenix.
This summer he has said the mystery illness that dogged him is behind him and that he feels ready for a full season. He sat out Latvia’s FIBA windows to focus on recovery.
New assistant Frank Vogel, hired after leaving Dallas, has made clear he wants Porzingis anchoring the defense.
“I’m really excited about putting him in my defensive system,” Vogel said.
“Because there’s a lot of details I believe in with my defensive system and how I use shot-blocking bigs that really gets a lot out of ’em on that side, and I really look forward to putting KP in those spots.”
Vogel’s past defenses, from Indiana to the Lakers title team, have leaned on shot-blocking centers. He sees Porzingis filling that role next to Draymond Green.
The Warriors finished 11th in defensive rating last season. A healthy Porzingis-Green pairing, with help on the perimeter from Brandin Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, could push the unit higher.
General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said the organization studied Porzingis’ medical history closely after the trade.
“We looked at it extensively, what’s going on, how we can help him, how we can be better,” Dunleavy said.
“And I just think the things we’ve discussed and look at and worked through lean in the direction of him having a healthier year.”
Porzingis has not played 70 games in a season since his rookie year with the Knicks. Career-long injury issues remain the obvious risk.
Golden State still signed him to a two-year, $40 million extension in June, with a player option and limited guarantees that preserve flexibility.
Training camp opens Sept. 29 at BYU-Hawaii after media day Sept. 28. The first preseason game is Oct. 4 against the Clippers in Honolulu. The regular season starts Oct. 21 at the Lakers.
Roster spots are still being settled after several camp invites. Porzingis’ availability will shape how Kerr and Vogel use the big-man minutes.
If he stays on the floor, the Warriors believe they added a bargain stretch big who can protect the rim and space the floor for Stephen Curry.
Health, not scheme, will decide whether last year’s limited sample becomes a full-season contribution.
