The Warriors Are Refusing to Pay Kristaps Porzingis His $20 Million Salary
Golden State is ruling that Porzingis 'is not rendering services.'
The have officially reached the "we are just not going to pay you" stage of roster management.
According to a report from Shams Charania and Anthony Slater, the Warriors are withholding payments on ' $20 million salary this season. The franchise is officially ruling that the big man is "not rendering services."
Withholding a $20 million check sounds like a clerical error until you realize sports contracts are basically just suggestions when things go south. For context, that is enough money to buy a private island, but is treating it like a disputed charge on a credit card bill.
The background here is actually pretty heavy. Porzingis is reportedly weighing his basketball future while dealing with recurring symptoms of POTS. The knew there was risk when they handed him a two-year, $40 million extension over the summer, but clearly, the front office did not expect the return on investment to hit zero this quickly. Only $3 million of his salary next season is guaranteed, which is the only silver lining for a team currently drowning in luxury tax math.
is an absolute hospital ward right now. has been out with a knee issue, and half the rotation is sitting in street clothes. They just dropped a tight 116-113 game to the and are desperately trying to keep their heads above water in the Western Conference play-in race.
If you are looking at the futures market or nightly spreads, this team is a radioactive variable. You cannot handicap a roster that is actively fighting its own over direct deposits while fielding a makeshift lineup.
The host the next, but the real action is in the legal department. Expect the ' association to get involved immediately, because if teams can just hit pause on guaranteed money, the next collective bargaining agreement is going to be negotiated in a steel cage.