Why did Gary Payton II fail his medical ahead of his trade to the Golden State Warriors?
The recently concluded trade deadline day was one to keep an eye out for. While there were breathtaking trades that could swing the momentum in favour of certain teams going for the Championship, there were also others that showcased the returns of players to their former clubs. However, no other deal on the deadline day went down quite like the one involving Gary Payton II.
The Portland Trail Blazers star who was traded by the Golden State Warriors only last off-season after he won the 2022 NBA Championship with the Bay Area outfit, was put in an initial four-team trade. The trade included sending James Wiseman to Detroit, Saddiq Bey going to Atlanta and Kevin Knox heading to the Trail Blazers along with five future second-round picks.
However, the deal was in jeopardy after it was reported that Payton’s physical post-trade revealed a core muscle injury that could keep him out for up to three months. Upon failing his physical, Payton’s move back to the Warriors was in danger of collapsing – as the Warriors filed a complaint against Portland, and the league launched an investigation into the matter.
If the Trail Blazers are found guilty of withholding information, they could be punished with a fine and or loss of draft picks, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. However, as it turns out, things have improved around the trade as the Athletic reported that the deal will go through as planned.
As of now, the Athletic have reported that despite the failed physical, the move is currently set to be in action.
Despite concerns about Gary Payton II’s failed physical that could sideline the guard for three months, the Golden State Warriors will reportedly finalize the four-team trade on Sunday, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports.
Now that the deal is expected to be finalized, Wiseman will receive a fresh start with the Pistons, while Bey will slot into a rotation spot with the Hawks. Though the deal hit an initial roadblock, it appears that all the teams involved will get what they wanted from this trade.
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