A very nice mess. While the Golden State Warriors thought they made a hit while recovering Gary Payton II, one of the key elements of the coronation last season, on the evening of the deadline, they now find themselves in front of a dilemma. Indeed, an abdominal injury, the same that has already deprived the player of the first 35 games of the season for the Portland Trail Blazers, was detected during his medical examination.
The Warriors can accept the transfer but, in this case, they will bring back a veteran who is not available for many weeks. They have until today to decide. As the deadline has already passed, no arrangements can be made on the transfer. Either it is validated as is, either it is canceled.
Several players and two teams other than Portland and Golden State are concerned. James Wiseman was to join the Detroit Pistons, Saddiq Bey the Atlanta Hawks. Kevin Knox took him the direction of the Blazers. We imagine that some could be very disappointed if they finally returned to their original team. In particular Wiseman, hardly used at the Warriors.
Gary Payton II, however, played twenty minutes against Golden State the day before the deadline. Portland leaders assure that they did not hide any injuries and that they would not have taken the risk of aligning him on the floor if they were aware of his state of health. However, according to other sources relayed by The Athletic, they would have asked the player to hold his rank despite the pain by giving him anti-inflammatories in particular… which they would not have revealed to the Warriors during the negotiations.
The COMPLETE summary of all the movements of the deadline