The Golden State Warriors recently made a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers for the services of veteran guard Gary Payton II. However, controversy arose after Payton failed his physical due to a “core muscle injury”. It now appears that the trade will ultimately go through, but the Warriors have still gone ahead with a complaint against the Trail Blazers organization.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the NBA received a complaint from Golden State against the Trail Blazers. This has launched an investigation by the NBA to review the Trail Blazers’ potentially misleading the Warriors about Payton’s health.
The NBA has received a complaint from the Golden State Warriors against the Portland Trail Blazers and the league has launched a review of potential misleading by the Blazers regarding Gary Payton II's status, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 12, 2023
It’s unclear what kind of sanctions could be dealt towards the Trail Blazers if they is evidence of misleading Golden State. Regardless many around the NBA world reacted to this bit of drama revealed on Super Bowl Sunday.
His agent denied that GP2 was given shots, so what other bombshell info did the Blazers withhold? https://t.co/qegO8Xhtg4
— Alex Tam 譚汶材 (@alexctam) February 12, 2023
Part of the process that the Warriors had been waiting on https://t.co/GwliJTqgXC
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 12, 2023
probably not good news for the home team. https://t.co/ZEdMKGzdrg
— Dwight Jaynes (@dwightjaynes) February 12, 2023
This should have happened sooner https://t.co/RHPUppw9v1
— John Walton (@John_Walton_) February 12, 2023
Charania also revealed on Sunday that the Warriors will indeed go through with the four-team trade for Payton ahead of Sunday’s deadline to complete the deal. However, they will not pass Payton’s physical exam.
The Warriors will go through with the Gary Payton II four-team trade, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Golden State will not pass Payton's physical exam, sources said, but has decided to move forward with deal that brings back the key 2022 championship piece.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 12, 2023
It is unclear whether or not Payton will ultimately even be able to suit up this season. Previous reports revealed that he could miss up to three months following the Warriors’ initial physical exam on him.
Just in: A failed physical exam of Gary Payton II has placed the Golden State-Portland-Detroit-Atlanta four-team deal in serious jeopardy, sources tell me and @anthonyVslater. Payton's core muscle injury could sideline him for up to three months following a Warriors exam.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 11, 2023
Payton is set to be in Golden State through the 2024-25 season, so this move could be a long-term decision for the Warriors if they view him as a piece of their future.
