The Golden State Warriors acquired Kristaps Porzingis from the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. With a little over 24 hours left before the Thursday trade deadline ends, the Dubs sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to Atlanta for Porzingis. The Latvian adds much-needed rim protection and shooting to a team that lost Jimmy Butler to a season-ending injury in January.
Kuminga and Hield have struggled to get playing time this season, so trading them made sense. The Dubs are hoping Porzingis, who missed the Hawks’ last 12 games due to a left Achilles tendinitis, could stay healthy to contribute to the team’s playoff push.
Here is the Dubs’ depth chart after acquiring Kristaps Porzingis
| Starters | 2nd | 3rd |
| Steph Curry | Pat Spencer | LJ Cryer |
| Brandin Podziemski | De’Anthony Melton | Seth Curry |
| Moses Moody | Will Richard | Gary Payton II |
| Draymond Green | Quinten Post | Gui Santos |
| Kristaps Porzingis | Al Horford |
The Hawks acquired Porzingis in the offseason from the Boston Celtics. However, injuries forced the Latvian to play just 17 games for Atlanta. He is averaging 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 blocks per game. Porzingis is hitting 45.7% of his shots, including 36.0% from deep.
Porzingis was expected to return from a 12-game absence on Tuesday. However, illness kept him on the bench in the Hawks’ 127-115 over the Miami Heat. The 2024 NBA champ could be available in limited minutes when the Warriors visit the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.
Golden State Warriors reunite Kristaps Porzingis with Al Horford
The Boston Celtics’ decision to break the core of its championship-winning team in 2024 saw them break the Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford pairing. Before the 2025-26 season started, Boston traded Porzingis to Atlanta and allowed Horford to leave in free agency.
The Golden State Warriors, after the long standoff with Jonathan Kuminga, eventually signed Horford. Roughly four months later, they reunited “Big Al” with his buddy in the Bay Area.
Porzingis and Horford were key components in the Celtics’ deep playoff runs and 2024 championship-winning team. Boston coach Joe Mazzulla started them both or have the latter start while the latter came off the bench. Together, they gave the Celtics elite rim protection and 3-point shooting.
The Warriors are hoping that by bringing them back together, they can replicate some of the Magic that made the Celtics successful.
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