Failed medical exam threatens warrior trade

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Sports enthusiasts in the Bay Area are already fed up with the words “pending physical.”

First up was Carlos Correa, who was three hours away from the opening press conference with the San Francisco Giants when concerns about his ankle prevented him from signing.

Now a four-team deal that would reunite the Golden State Warriors with Gary Payton II hangs in the balance after his physical revealed a core muscle injury that would keep him out of action for up to three months.

The trade, as originally agreed, would see James Wiseman, second overall for 2020, move to the Detroit Pistons and Payton move from the Portland Trail Blazers back to the Warriors. Golden State will also receive a pair of future second-round picks from the Atlanta Hawks, who were due to acquire Saadiq Bey from Detroit. Kevin Knox II was due to travel from Detroit to Portland, and the Trail Blazers were also due to receive five future second-round picks.

Payton II is the son of Oakland native Gary Payton, who is currently the head basketball coach at Lincoln University in Oakland. Payton II spent the 2021–22 season with the Warriors averaging 7.1 points per game in the regular season and scoring 15 points in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, a month after breaking her elbow in Game 2 of the Western. Conference Semifinals vs. Memphis Grizzlies.

In accordance with Shams Charania from The AthleticThe Warriors have until Saturday to either finalize the trade or end the four-team deal entirely. The deadline for the deal expired on Thursday at noon PT, meaning a restructuring of the deal is out of the question.

It is not yet known if Payton’s health will affect the status his now viral jersey swap with Jordan Poole after losing to the Warriors on Wednesday in Portland.

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