Golden State Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. made a trade with the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis to improve his team's chance ahead of this year's postseason, and beyond. Despite the fact that Porzingis hasn't been healthy, missing his sixth consecutive game two weeks removed from his Warriors debut in a 121-110 loss to the Boston Celtics.

Still, Dunleavy Jr. considers Porzingis a significant part of the Warriors' future, he said, per ESPN's Anthony Slater and Ramona Shelburne.

“In a perfect world, I would've loved to have Jimmy with him as well,” Dunleavy said. “But I think it works with or without Jimmy.”

Butler III suffered a season-ending ACL injury earlier in the season, which really put a damper of the Warriors' outlook, especially with All-Star Stephen Curry in and out of the lineup due to a knee injury. Golden State's overtime win against the Houston Rockets was the 12th consecutive game Curry has missed.

However, when Dunleavy Jr. looks at the Warriors' big picture, he sees Curry, Butler III, and Porzingis to be pillars surrounded by their young talented players, such as Brandin Podziemski and De'Anthony Melton, who helped secure Thursday's win on the road.

“We see him as more than a rental,” Dunleavy added. “We feel he can help our team this year, better our playoff position, and then moving forward fits what we are looking for.”

Warriors veteran Kristaps Porzingis' illness forced him to miss nearly half of his last season with the Celtics, who traded him to the Hawks, over the summer. His health has plagued his last two seasons, playing in only 17 games in Atlanta before his trade to the Warriors.

Steve Kerr calls Warriors' win over Rockets best of the season

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Warriors head coach Steve Kerr looks on during the first quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum
Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. reportedly called the Clippers before this year's trade deadline about Kawhi Leonard, who stayed put, while James Harden was moved to the Cavs following a trade request. However, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was impressed with his team's effort, which beat the Rockets on the road without Stephen Curry.

The last time the Warriors won on the road against the Rockets was in Game 7 of their best-of-7 series in the opening round of last year's playoffs. For Kerr, the intensity from Thursday's overtime thriller reminded him of a playoff-like atmosphere at the Toyota Center, he said, per ESPN's Anthony Slater.

“It's interesting, we've won playoff games over the years here, series, we won Game 7 here. You win a game like tonight, and it feels the same. You're just trying to win. Winning is just an amazing feeling,” Kerr said. Even though it's just a regular-season game, just to see a bunch of young guys compete and come out with a win, it feels like a playoff win — it really does.”

The Warriors road trip continues with a matchup against the Thunder on Saturday.