Thursday’s deadline day deal that was set to reunite Gary Payton II with the Warriors is now in jeopardy after the guard failed his physical on Friday, according to Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
Payton could miss two-to-three months with a core muscle issue, which he had been playing through in Portland and managing with Toradol shots. The injury was not relayed to Golden State during the trade negotiation process.
The Warriors have until Saturday to decide whether or not they want to go through with the trade, or rescind the entire deal.
Portland coach Chauncey Billups addressed the situation Friday night, saying, “We would never push a guy to play. Whether it’s medical or he just doesn’t feel like playing. I’d be scared of me doing that, and then something bad happens.” General manager Joe Cronin made similar comments, adding that “player safety is super important to us, it’s a super important thing around the league.” Cronin was adamant Payton “had been cleared.”
As part of the trade, the Warriors dealt former No. 2 pick James Wiseman to the Pistons and send Saddiq Bey, who they acquired from Detroit, to Atlanta for five second-round picks. The Warriors then used those picks to trade for Payton II, who was an important rotational piece of last season’s championship team for Golden State.
Now with Payton’s health a question mark and his status for the rest of the regular season in doubt, the Warriors will have a decision to make regarding their planned reunion with the guard.
Payton is averaging 4.1 points per game this season for the Trail Blazers.
