Would Golden State Warriors consider backflip trade for fan favorite?

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 16: Otto Porter Jr. #32 and Gary Payton II #0 of the Golden State Warriors help Stephen Curry #30 up against the Boston Celtics during the first quarter in Game Six of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 16, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 16: Otto Porter Jr. #32 and Gary Payton II #0 of the Golden State Warriors help Stephen Curry #30 up against the Boston Celtics during the first quarter in Game Six of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 16, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

When the Golden State Warriors let Gary Payton II walk to the Portland Trail Blazers in free agency, many frustrated fans unfairly viewed it as the prioritization of a certain recent lottery pick.

The Warriors were unwilling to match the Trail Blazers’ offer of a three-year, $26.1 million deal. Coincidentally, Payton’s $8.3 million salary for this season is most closely aligned with Golden State’s former number two overall pick — James Wiseman.

Would the Golden State Warriors consider trading James Wiseman in a deal to re-acquire fan favourite Gary Payton II from the Portland Trail Blazers?

Some fans were left annoyed that the franchise didn’t muster the money for a genuine championship-winning piece, particularly when an unproven, albeit talented young player is making comparative money. However, the luxury tax implications clearly made it untenable, and Wiseman’s upside still appeared more valuable than Payton as a known commodity.

Golden State Warriors’ James Wiseman has struggled to start the season. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Golden State Warriors’ James Wiseman has struggled to start the season. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Is that statement still true though 12 games into the season? Wiseman has had an inconsistent start, now finding himself fully out of Steve Kerr’s rotation. Meanwhile, Payton is returning from injury and is yet to suit up in a Portland uniform.

Speaking on the latest episode of the Warriors Plus Minus podcast, host Tim Kawakami floated the possibility of Golden State doing a backflip of sorts by dealing the third-year center for the 30-year-old defensive menace.

"“If you’re the Warriors, and this goes on for three more weeks, would you think about a Wiseman for Gary Payton trade?…Maybe you get a protected first in that two?”"

His co-hosts Anthony Slater and Marcus Thompson both assessed that a deal wouldn’t hypothetically happen until just prior to the trade deadline in February, and only if the Warriors were in a situation where they could miss the playoffs. They also struggled to believe that the front office would concede Wiseman as a mistake just yet.

Golden State have a 5-7 record and sit 11th in the Western Conference, although they’re on a two-game winning streak with Wiseman out of the rotation.