The Kristaps Porzingis Waiting Game Has Officially Arrived in Golden State

The phrase "Kristaps Porzingis" followed by "unclear return timeline" is basically a rite of passage for any NBA franchise that acquires him. Now, it is the Golden State Warriors' turn to ride the rollercoaster.

Head coach Steve Kerr announced that Porzingis is dealing with an unspecified "health issue" and will meet with the team's medical staff at the Warriors' facilities on Tuesday.

"Kerr: Kristaps Porzingis (health issue) will be at Warriors facilities on Tuesday to meet with team's medical staff."

The most concerning part of Kerr's update isn't just the medical visit itself, but the open-ended nature of it. Right now, there is absolutely no timetable for when the seven-footer will actually be able to get back on the floor.

Golden State is coming off a 111-106 win over the Sacramento Kings and is gearing up to face the Los Angeles Lakers on October 14. They were supposed to be integrating their new floor-spacing big man into the rotation, not sending him to the doctor's office before the real games even start.

For a team trying to maximize the twilight of the Stephen Curry era, adding Porzingis was a high-upside swing. But that upside only exists if he is actually wearing a jersey instead of street clothes on the bench.

Anyone holding Warriors futures or looking at early-season win totals needs to adjust their math immediately. A Golden State frontcourt without Porzingis puts a lot more pressure on the rest of the roster to manufacture size and rim protection out of thin air.

We will see what the medical staff says on Tuesday, but for now, Warriors fans should probably brace themselves. The KP waiting game has officially begun in the Bay.