On Thursday, it appeared as though the Golden State Warriors were heading towards a reunion with Gary Payton II, who was on their NBA Championship-winning team in 2022. Payton was part of a four-team deal between the Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks. Now, that trade may not happen.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported on Friday evening that Payton’s physical with the Warriors did not go well. As such, the trade may not happen.
“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,” Charania tweeted. “Payton’s core muscle injury could sideline him for up to three months following a Warriors exam.”
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
Basketball fans had several different reactions to the latest news.
Oh boy. https://t.co/HTqlPPTEVF pic.twitter.com/CAHre7gd01
— Peter Simpson (@SgtPeteSimpson) February 11, 2023
Hold up…#RipCity https://t.co/2UwGDcLdjQ
— Orlando Sanchez (@orlandokgw) February 11, 2023
GP II averaged 17 minutes per game in 14 of the Blazers' last 16. https://t.co/1ZyeRAv3XV
— J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets) February 11, 2023
Uh-oh #RipCity https://t.co/E8u8EbEeKX
— Ronald Clark (@JournalistClark) February 11, 2023
This is rough but it would shock me if the @warriors don’t complete the trade. https://t.co/V2bQT99brF
— Play Kuminga (@SurfJournalist) February 11, 2023
Charania followed his initial report up, tweeting that “The Warriors have until Saturday to go through with the trade — or have the entire four-team deal be rescinded, sources said. Golden State re-acquired Payton at the trade deadline on Thursday.”
https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1624199664319991808
Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area also said that while the physical was failed, “the Warriors might be willing to waive it to retain his rights. Situation is fluid (partly bc other pending physicals), but conceivable the full trade still gets completed.”
League sources: Yes, GP2 failed his physical.
But the Warriors might be willing to waive it to retain his rights.
Situation is fluid (partly bc other pending physicals), but conceivable the full trade still gets completed— Monte Poole (@MontePooleNBCS) February 11, 2023
Payton averaged 17.6 minutes with 7.1 points and 1.4 steals per game with the Warriors a season ago. He’s had an issue staying on the court in Portland this season, playing in only 15 games. So, it’s not too surprising to see that there’s an issue with his physical.
If Payton is out for three months, he wouldn’t be available for the Warriors this year unless they had a deep playoff run. The good news is that he is signed through the 2023-24 season with a player option for the following year. So, should the Warriors decide to go through with the trade, Payton wouldn’t be a one-year rental who may not ever play for them. Still, this is not what anyone involved in this trade was hoping for.
[Shams Charania on Twitter, Monte Poole on Twitter]
