The Golden State Warriors decided to go through with the trade for Gary Payton II despite the failed medical check. However, an investigation is still pending.
The Warriors have gotten loud ESPN decided to complete the trade that will bring Payton II back to the Golden State, and which will also see James Wiseman move to Detroit, Saddiq Bey to Atlanta, and Kevin Knox to Portland.
The Warriors initially held up the deal because their team doctors found Payton II’s medical check-up had an injury the team was previously unaware of. Golden State accused the Trail Blazers of intentionally withholding information as Payton II is now likely to be sidelined for up to three months.
The Blazers’ conduct in this matter is now under investigation. ESPN Portland said they could face a fine or forfeit draft picks if they are found to have actually done anything wrong. The Warriors had “paid” a total of five second-round picks to Portland for Payton II, but were probably unaware at the time that the guard could only play on the painkiller Toradol this season.
Blazers GM Joe Cronin said Friday the allegations were unfounded. “The safety of the players is super important to us. We let him play, he had the clearance and we were confident that he was healthy when he played. We wouldn’t have let him play otherwise if we felt like it , it would be a risk for him. You can trust that.”
Payton II had only played 15 games for Portland after coming as a free agent from the Warriors that summer. He wasn’t able to make his debut for the Blazers until January.
