The Golden State Warriors may be facing a pivotal off season after falling short in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. After being eliminated in five games by the surging Minnesota Timberwolves during the Western Conference Semifinals, the Warriors are clearly in need of reinforcements if they want to return to championship contention. Injuries played a role—most notably the loss of Steph Curry in Game 1—but even with a healthy roster, there are some glaring weaknesses that need to be addressed. One area that stands out is their lack of size and consistency at the center position.
In a recent trade proposal published by Bleacher Reports Grant Hughes, the Warriors are floated as a potential landing spot for Boston Celtics star big man Kristaps Porzingis. This hypothetical deal is intriguing for a number of reasons and could potentially benefit both teams in terms of roster construction and financial flexibility.
Porzingis, when healthy, is a highly skilled big man who offers rim protection, floor spacing, and scoring versatility. He’s a legitimate 7-footer who can stretch the floor with his three-point shooting, defend at a high level, and provide a much-needed interior presence for a Warriors team that has lacked a true two-way big man in recent years. His ability to pick-and-pop with Curry or Klay Thompson could give Golden State a dynamic new look on offense.
For the Celtics, who have championship aspirations of their own, the motivation behind a deal like this would likely be financial. With multiple high-priced contracts on the books—including those of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White—the Celtics are projected to be well over the salary cap. Moving Porzingis could be a strategic move to ease their cap crunch while bringing in rotational depth and possibly young talent or draft compensation in return.
So what might such a trade look like?
While the specifics of the proposal haven’t been disclosed in full, any deal would likely involve the Warriors sending out a combination of veteran contracts and role players—perhaps players like Kevon Looney, Moses Moody, or Gary Payton II—along with potential draft picks. These are players who could provide Boston with solid depth and playoff experience, even if they don’t match Porzingis’ star power.
Of course, the major X-factor here is health. Porzingis has struggled with injuries throughout his career and was limited during the 2024-2025 season as well. Acquiring him would be a calculated risk for Golden State, but one that could pay off if he stays on the court. The Warriors have always thrived when surrounding Curry with high-IQ players who can shoot and defend. Porzingis checks those boxes—at least when healthy.
This proposed trade is just speculation for now, but it does highlight the types of moves both teams may consider this offseason. The Warriors need to retool to stay competitive in an increasingly talented Western Conference, while the Celtics may look to optimize their roster around their All-Star wings and alleviate financial pressure.
Whether or not this trade comes to fruition, it’s clear both franchises will be active and strategic as they chase another title in 2026.