The defending champs had until Sunday evening to decide whether or not to cancel the trade that brought James Wiseman to Detroit.
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| Warriors will approve a four-team transaction and acquire Gary Payton II |
Warriors will acquire Gary Payton II in a four-team trade
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Golden State Warriors have decided to acquire Gary Payton II from the Portland Trail Blazers despite worries regarding the guard's health following offseason surgery for a core muscle problem that sidelined him for one month.
Sunday, a person with direct knowledge of the situation stated that the Warriors spoke with the NBA about how the Trail Blazers handled the trade and information about Payton's medical condition, which put the trade in peril on Friday. The individual talked to The Associated Press under the condition of anonymity because no information regarding the negotiations and discussions has been made public.
The defending champs had until Sunday evening to decide whether or not to cancel the trade that brought James Wiseman to Detroit. Golden State will also acquire unprotected second-round draft picks in 2026 and 2028 from Portland in exchange for Memphis' 2026 second-round pick and its own 2028 second-round selection.
The Blazers receive forward Kevin Knox II from the Pistons along with three conditional second-round picks from the Hawks in exchange for forward Saddiq Bey.
The 30-year-old Payton played a crucial role as a defensive stopper for Golden State during last season's championship run and would give immediate backcourt depth with Stephen Curry sidelined until at least after the All-Star break due to a left leg injury.
Uncertain is Payton's status for the remainder of the season. He played against Golden State in Portland's triumph against the Warriors on Wednesday night before rejoining his former team a day before the trade deadline. Over 15 games, Payton has averaged 4.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists.