Warriors withholding payments to Porzingis, sources say - ESPN

The Golden State Warriors are not delivering semimonthly payments to veteran center Kristaps Porzingis on his $20 million salary, league sources told ESPN, ruling that the currently absent center is not rendering his services.

General manager Mike Dunleavy and the Warriors' front office are still actively pursuing trade avenues utilizing Porzingis' contract even as the 31-year-old leans toward ending his NBA career.

For rival teams, absorbing Porzingis' near-expiring salary could either allow them to move a longer-term salary out to save money (plus clear a roster spot via buyout) or theoretically net a draft asset, depending on what the Warriors are willing to attach.

The Warriors have no current plans on voiding Porzingis' contract, team sources said, maintaining trade flexibility up until the Feb. 11 deadline. Porzingis is not actively disputing the lack of payments and the player's association has no plan to dispute either, league sources said.

Under different circumstances last season, the Miami Heat withheld payments for veteran guard Terry Rozier while he was under federal investigation in a gambling scandal but did spend the months leading up to the deadline exploring trade possibilities with his contract.

After battling an elongated health issue the past two seasons, Porzingis signed a two-year, $40 million extension with the Warriors this summer (only $3 million guaranteed in the second season). But on the eve of training camp, he called Dunleavy and stepped away from the team. The Warriors gave him some space initially but expected him to return to the facility and be around his teammates and the medical staff in his recovery, team sources said.

After a meeting with Dunleavy and Rick Celebrini, the team's lead