Stop scrolling. I know what you’re thinking.
Kristaps Porzingis? The guy made of glass? The same Porzingis who can’t stay healthy for more than two weeks at a time? That’s the Lakers’ big offseason target?
Yes. And here’s why you shouldn’t laugh.
The Los Angeles Lakers are entering one of the most pivotal offseasons in recent franchise history. Luka Doncic is the present and the future. LeBron James is a question mark. Austin Reaves might be on the move. And Deandre Ayton? Let’s just say the Lakers are already shopping for his replacement.
But while every analyst on Earth is screaming about the Lakers going after names like Brook Lopez, Myles Turner, or even a reunion with Dwight Howard (please, no), one name has been quietly sitting in the shadows:
Kristaps Porzingis.
The Unicorn. The 7-foot-3 Latvian who can block shots, stretch the floor, and frustrate fans with his injury report. He just finished a stint with the Golden State Warriors. He’s an unrestricted free agent. And according to multiple sources, the Lakers could steal him from their California rivals for a very reasonable price.
Let me break down why this move is smarter than you think — and why Warriors fans should be worried.
The Case for Porzingis: What He Brings to the Table
First, let’s get the obvious out of the way: Porzingis is not the healthiest player in the NBA. He might not even be in the top 200. But when he’s on the court, he’s a legitimate difference-maker.
Let’s look at the tape — and the numbers.
In his 15 regular-season games with the Warriors after the trade deadline, Porzingis averaged:
16.1 points
5.3 rebounds
2.5 assists
Those numbers aren’t eye-popping. But context matters. He was learning a new system on the fly, dealing with injuries, and never really found a rhythm. The version of Porzingis we saw with the Boston Celtics in 2023-24? That’s the one Lakers fans should be salivating over.
That season, he was a key piece on a 64-win team that eventually won the NBA title. He provided:
Elite rim protection (1.5+ blocks per game)
Floor spacing (35%+ from three, forcing big men to leave the paint)
Lob threat (yes, he can still catch and finish above the rim)
Pick-and-pop mastery with smart point guards
Now imagine that version of Porzingis next to Luka Doncic.
Remember when Porzingis and Doncic played together in Dallas? It wasn’t perfect. There were chemistry issues. Porzingis wanted more post touches. Doncic wanted the ball in his hands. But that was five years ago and two knee surgeries ago. Both players have matured. Both have evolved.
And here’s the secret: Porzingis has fully embraced a complementary role. He’s no longer demanding to be the man. He just wants to win. That’s exactly what the Lakers need.
The Health Gamble: Why It’s Worth Taking
Let me be 100% honest with you: Porzingis is a risk. A significant one.
Over the last two seasons, bizarre health issues have plagued him. He missed multiple stretches with the Warriors. His body has betrayed him at the worst possible moments. Any team signing him is praying to the basketball gods for 60+ games.
But here’s the counterargument: when healthy, he’s a top-10 rim-protecting, floor-spacing big man in the entire league. And those don’t grow on trees.
Jason Burgos of Sportsnaut.com put it perfectly:
*“If the Lakers are looking for affordable risks with upside this offseason, 10-year veteran Kristaps Porzingis should be on their radar. His bizarre health issues have severely hampered him over the last two seasons. However, his 2023-24 season with the Boston Celtics showed he can be a serious difference maker on a title contender if healthy.”*
Affordable risk. That’s the key phrase.
The Lakers aren’t going to throw a max contract at Porzingis. They don’t need to. He’s coming off a two-year, $60 million deal with the Celtics. His market has cooled significantly. The Warriors are talking about bringing him back on a smaller contract.
That means the Lakers could potentially land him for $20-25 million per year over two or three seasons.
For a player who can completely change the geometry of an offense and protect the rim on defense? That’s a bargain.
How Porzingis Fits Next to Luka Doncic (Round 2)
Let’s address the elephant in the room: the first Porzingis-Doncic partnership in Dallas didn’t work. At all.
There was tension. There was finger-pointing. There were whispers that Porzingis didn’t like being the second option. And Doncic, who was younger and less patient back then, didn’t do him any favors.
But that was 2021-22. This is 2026.
Here’s what’s different:
Porzingis has accepted his role. He’s no longer a star. He’s a high-level role player. And he’s okay with that.
Doncic has matured. The Luka we see now is a leader, not just a stat-sheet filler. He knows how to elevate teammates.
The Lakers’ system is different. In Dallas, Porzingis was asked to be a post-up threat. In L.A., he’d be asked to space the floor, set screens, pop out for threes, and protect the paint. That’s his sweet spot.
LeBron’s uncertainty actually helps. If LeBron leaves or retires, the Lakers need another scoring option. Porzingis can give you 18-20 points on nights when Doncic is double-teamed.
The fit isn’t just good. It’s borderline perfect.
The Warriors’ Dilemma: Can Golden State Keep Him?
Here’s where things get interesting for Lakers fans.
The Warriors have expressed genuine interest in keeping Porzingis. General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. recently told the media:
“KP is just a unique, unique player on both ends of the court. I think for us to have that talent back is something we want. (Porzingis) is unrestricted, so we’ll start having the conversations to try and get him back in the fold, but we like what we’ve seen from him. I think next year could be a more healthy, productive year for him.”
Translation: The Warriors want him. But they don’t want to overpay.
Golden State is in salary cap hell — remember that 83.2% payroll commitment we’ve discussed before? They can’t throw money around like they used to. They’re hoping Porzingis takes a discount to stay in the Bay Area.
But here’s the Lakers’ advantage: Los Angeles is projected to have some of the most cap space in the league this offseason.
While the Warriors are pinching pennies, the Lakers can write a check. Not a blank check, but a competitive one. Two years, 50million?Threeyears,50million?Threeyears,70 million? That’s absolutely within reach.
And here’s the kicker: the Lakers can offer Porzingis something the Warriors can’t right now — a legitimate chance to win a championship next season.
Golden State is old. They’re capped out. They’re hoping for internal improvement. The Lakers, with Luka Doncic and (potentially) a healthy Porzingis and whatever version of LeBron shows up, are a top-4 team in the West on paper.
What the Lakers Would Be Getting: A Scouting Report
Let me paint you a picture of what Kristaps Porzingis looks like on the court in 2026.
On offense:
He’s a legitimate pick-and-pop threat. Defenses have to respect his three-point shot, which pulls opposing centers out of the paint.
He can finish above the rim on lobs — yes, even at 7-foot-3 with injury history. Doncic loves throwing lobs.
He’s not a post-up machine anymore, but he can punish smaller defenders in mismatch situations.
He’s an excellent free-throw shooter for a big man (85% career), so hacking him isn’t a strategy.
On defense:
He’s a legitimate rim protector. Not Rudy Gobert level, but close enough to alter shots and make drivers think twice.
He struggles against quick, physical centers who back him down. But those are rare in today’s NBA.
His mobility has declined, but he’s still effective in drop coverage and help defense.
The weaknesses (because there are always weaknesses):
Health. Health. Health. You’re buying a Ferrari that spends 30% of the year in the shop.
Rebounding is average at best. He’s not going to grab 12 boards a night. That’s not his game.
He can be targeted in pick-and-roll defense by elite guards. But so can almost every center not named Bam Adebayo.
Other Lakers Center Targets: How Porzingis Compares
The Lakers are going to be linked to every available big man this summer. Let’s quickly compare Porzingis to the other names floating around:
Porzingis offers something most of those guys don’t: elite floor spacing combined with elite rim protection. That’s a rare combination. In fact, there are only about 4-5 players in the entire league who can do both at a high level.
The health risk is real. But the upside is undeniable.
The Bottom Line: Should the Lakers Do It?
Here’s my honest take.
If the Lakers can sign Kristaps Porzingis to a two-year, $45-50 million deal with a team option on the second year? Do it without hesitation.
If they have to go to three years, $70 million? Still do it, but add some injury protections.
If they have to give him a full four-year max? Walk away. That’s too rich.
The Lakers don’t need Porzingis to be the savior. They need him to be the third or fourth best player on the team. Behind Luka. Behind (maybe) LeBron. Behind Austin Reaves or whoever else emerges.
In that role, with that salary, he’s a home run signing.
And here’s the best part: the Lakers can probably steal him right out from under the Warriors’ noses. Golden State wants him back, but they can’t pay him. The Lakers can. And they can offer a better chance to win.
Final Verdict: Don’t Sleep on the Unicorn
Lakers fans, I know you’ve been burned before. The team has swung and missed on big names. The hype train has derailed more times than we can count.
But Kristaps Porzingis isn’t a hype train. He’s a real, tangible, available upgrade at a position of desperate need.
He’s not the sexy name. He’s not LeBron or Giannis or even a reunion with Dennis Schroder (please no). But he might be the smart name. The move that nobody sees coming until it happens.
The Warriors are hoping to keep him. The rest of the league is sleeping on him. And the Lakers, with their cap space and their need for a two-way big man, are perfectly positioned to pounce.
Here’s the bottom line: Kristaps Porzingis won’t sell jerseys. He won’t dominate Instagram. But he might just be the missing piece that turns the Lakers from a play-in team into a legitimate title contender.
And if the Lakers can steal him from Golden State? That’s just the cherry on top.
One thing’s certain: The Unicorn is available. And the Lakers should be making the call.