“Forgot He Still Plays,” Kendrick Perkins Savagely Ridicules Kristaps Porzingis Trade to Warriors Amidst Crisis

Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins said that he forgot Kristaps Porzingis still played basketball.

“Forgot He Still Plays,” Kendrick Perkins Savagely Ridicules Kristaps Porzingis Trade to Warriors Amidst Crisis

Kendrick Perkins on Kristaps Porzingis (Image credits - Firstsportz)

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Kristaps Porzingis has had his fair share of struggles with injuries since being drafted by the New York Knicks as the number four pick in the 2015 NBA draft. The Golden State Warriors made the move for the Latvian international after moving on from Giannis Antetokounmpo. In their first big move at the trade deadline, they agreed to trade Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks for the veteran center.

While Porzingis comes with a history of injuries, he does bring championship mettle after winning one with the Boston Celtics in 2024. It has been a difficult period for the club over the last two weeks. On Tuesday night, they suffered a humiliating 113-94 defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers, who were dealing with their own recent setback.

Since Jimmy Butler‘s ACL tear, the Warriors have lost five of their last seven games and are coming off consecutive home losses. At one point, it looked like the Warriors were making a run for the top six, but they seem to be losing ground. The loss dropped their record to 27-24 as they sit at eighth in the Western Conference standings. 

The trade for Porzingis also sees all the drama surrounding Jonathan Kuminga finally come to an end. Kuminga has had a difficult time with the Warriors, and many believe head coach Steve Kerr is the reason behind it. Porzingis has struggled with injuries this season and is currently averaging 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists in just 17 appearances.

Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins is well known for being a vocal figure and not shying away from speaking his mind. Following the trade, Perkins said that he forgot Porzingis was still playing basketball.

I forgot he still plays basketball. I haven’t heard his name till tonight. When you talk about where we’ve been discussing about pairing Steph with Giannis. Now all of a sudden it is Kristaps Porzingis. That don’t move the needle for the Warriors.

With Kuminga frozen out of the squad over the last few months and Hield struggling for game time, it made sense to trade the two players for a center.

Draymond Green will retire if the Warriors decide to trade him

There is no doubt that Draymond Green has been an integral member of the Warriors dynasty. Drafted in the second round by the Warriors in the 2012 NBA draft, Green has helped the club to four championships and was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2017.

But Green appears to be at a crossroads with the Warriors at the moment. It is never easy to be traded away after spending nearly one and a half decades with the same franchise. After nearly 14 years, his name is suddenly part of real trade conversations, and not just as background noise.

Draymond Green
Draymond Green (Credits: MARCA)

However, Perkins, who has never been a big fan of the four-time champion, said Green might contemplate retirement if the Warriors part ways with him on the Road Trippin podcast.

Draymond might retire. I don’t see a world where Draymond is going to be able to survive without a Steph Curry.

Over the years, Green has formed a telepathic connection with Stephen Curry, helping the latter to optimize his abilities. However, with the Warriors moving on from Antetokounmpo, it looks like Green will be staying with the club for the rest of the 2025-26 campaign.

Kendrick Perkins questions Kawhi Leonard’s leadership

The Los Angeles Clippers were in a horrid position a couple of months ago. They were lingering at 14th in the Western Conference standings with a 6-21 record. Since then, they have gone 17-6 and are currently in ninth place in the standings.

The Clippers are still looking for their first championship. Since signing Kawhi Leonard in 2019, who was coming off a championship with the Toronto Raptors, the Clippers have signed multiple stars in hopes of winning the title.

The latest superstar to leave Leonard and the Clippers is James Harden. The former MVP got traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a shocking move. Perkins began to question if NBA stars don’t want to play with Kawhi at the Clippers anymore.

Does guys not want to play with Kawhi? I’m asking. There has to be something there for guys to be jumping ship. Paul George… And Kawhi didn’t fight for him to get the extra year either. CP3. What didn’t work out for some reason? Now, all of a sudden, James [Harden]?

Leonard is known for being an unconventional superstar. The two-time champion stays away from the public eye as much as possible and is a quiet person. But when healthy, he is still one of the best two-way players in the NBA.

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