Warriors Playoff Hopes Hinge on Kristaps Porzingis Contract Amid Latest NBA Rumors

The Golden State Warriors drafted Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg with the 11th overall pick in this year's NBA Draft and Thursday, Anthony Slater and Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Al Horford planned to decline his player option and sign a new contract with the team.

The Horford deal does not appear to affect the team's willingness to re-sign Kristaps Porzingis, though, with Brett Siegel of Clutch Points reporting on X that the Warriors brass are currently in negotiations to bring him back.

As they should.

The Warriors are not a better team at this juncture without Porzingis, who averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists last season. He shot 44.6 percent from the field, 33.8 percent from beyond the arc, and 84.2 percent from the line.

Beyond that, he brought a dominant rim presence to a team that sorely lacked it before he got there, and helped create favorable match-ups for future Hall of Famer Steph Curry.

Bringing him back solidifies the front court with Draymond Green, allows Curry to continue being the offensive game-changer that he has historically been, and allows the Warriors to provide gritty play around the basket.

He has a long, storied history of health issues and has missed his fair share of games over the years, but the assets he brings to the court and his ability to change the tone of any game, outweighs it.

The benefits are plentiful and with a respected veteran like Horford also in the mix, as well as a mature young player like Lendeborg having the tools to be an immediate contributor, the Warriors have the potential to return to the postseason after missing the playoffs this past season.