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Shocking details emerge of Payton’s Portland time as Golden State Warriors trade put in jeopardy

By Peter O'Keefe

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Gary Payton II #0 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates after the 104-94 win against the Boston Celtics in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 13, 2022 in San Francisco, California. 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Gary Payton II #0 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates after the 104-94 win against the Boston Celtics in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 13, 2022 in San Francisco, California. 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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Gary Payton II isn’t back with the Golden State Warriors just yet. The 30-year-old was dealt to his former team in a four-way trade in the hours before Thursday’s deadline, but The Athletics’ Shams Charania reports that Payton failed the physical examination, putting the deal under serious threat.

The Warriors will now spend the next 24 hours deliberating whether they want to rescind the trade, though it’s unclear what the details around that would be. Former number two overall pick James Wiseman was traded to the Detroit Pistons as part of the deal.

The Portland Trail Blazers’ mismanagement of Gary Payton II has put his move to the Golden State Warriors in serious jeopardy.

Golden State’s examination revealed that Payton could miss three months due to an ongoing abdominal injury. Portland has now come under fire for their management of the defensive star, with Charania’s report detailing the Trail Blazers’ shocking handling of Payton’s injury.

"“Payton, according to sources, had been playing through pain in Portland. Sources added that the Blazers training staff had been pushing him to gut through it, giving him Toradol shots. This had not been relayed to the Warriors during the negotiation process.”"

Gary Payton’s time with the Portland Trail Blazers appears to have been a harrowing one, with his move back to the Golden State Warriors not yet confirmed. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Gary Payton’s time with the Portland Trail Blazers appears to have been a harrowing one, with his move back to the Golden State Warriors not yet confirmed. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Golden State now have to decide whether they want to follow through with acquiring Payton, knowing full well that he likely won’t be available until the pointy end of the postseason should the Warriors make it that far.

It’s an incredibly awkward position to be in given the team’s have already welcomed or farewelled each of the players involved in the trade. Detroit’s Saddiq Bey was dealt to the Atlanta Hawks, while Kevin Knox and five second-round picks headed from Atlanta to Portland via Golden State.

Payton signed a three-year, $27 million with the Trail Blazers in free agency, a decision he may have come to regret just months into the deal. He was reported to be ‘ecstatic’ with a move back to the Warriors, and it’s easy to see why given this latest development.

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