Gary Payton II has reportedly failed his medical check with the Golden State Warriors, according to media reports. It is said that the guard could face up to three months of downtime, which could put the four-team trade between the Warriors, Pistons, Blazers and Hawks in jeopardy.
Initially, Shams Charania (The Athletic) reported that the deal was at risk, and this was later confirmed by other media outlets. During Payton II’s medical check, an injury to his trunk muscles was apparently discovered, which could force him to sit out for two to three months.
The problems reportedly stem from a summer abdomen operation, after which the 30-year-old missed the first 35 games of the season. After his return, he allegedly played with pain and the Blazers medical staff allegedly urged him to play anyway, giving him pain medication. He recently played 22 minutes against Golden State on Wednesday (9 points, 3 rebounds).
The Warriors wanted to bring back the tenacious guard defender before the trade deadline, after he played a key role in winning the championship in the previous season, but joined Portland as a free agent.
To do this, the Dubs engineered a four-team trade, which would have sent Payton II and two second-round picks to Golden State, former No. 2 pick James Wiseman to Detroit, Saddiq Bey from the Pistons to Atlanta, and Kevin Knox (Pistons) and five second-round picks to Portland.
After failing the medical check, the Warriors now have until Saturday to decide whether to proceed with the deal or cancel it. There were reportedly discussions between the teams involved on Friday about whether the trade could be adjusted. However, the fact that four teams are involved in the deal complicates the matter.
Blazers GM Joe Cronin announced at a press conference on Friday that Payton II was officially cleared to play and the team was “confident” that he was fit. “The safety of the players is extremely important to us and to the league. We would not have brought him back if we thought he was not healthy or posed a risk,” said Cronin.
