The Portland Trail Blazers weren’t notified of the Golden State Warriors’ concerns about Gary Payton II’s health — by the Warriors organization or media outlets — until it was first reported by The Athletic, per The Rose Garden Report’s Sean Highkin (subscription required).
The controversy surrounding the Blazers and Warriors, which jeopardized Thursday’s four-team deal involving the two franchises, the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks, arose after a Friday report from The Athletic’s Shams Charania stated Payton failed his physical with Golden State.