Hollinger: https://theathletic.com/4190727/2023/02/13/nba-trades-news-john-hollinger?source=user-shared-article As for the nuts and bolts of the dispute between Portland and Golden State, the Warriors have done a much better job in the PR battle, but it’s not clear to me that they’re sitting on an ironclad case to receive any further compensation. The core issue here (sorry) is the NBA’s requirement on medical disclosures in trades and whether Portland followed the rules. In trades, teams are required to disclose any injuries a player may have or had. They are not, technically, required to disclose how those injuries have been treated; as a result, I’m not sure any complaints about Toradol pills will get much traction. At the time of the trade, teams are given access to the other team’s electronic medical records for a given player (everything is online now, or is supposed to be); if the Blazers failed to note a legitimate injury in here, that would be a more glaring issue, and the league could penalize them.
It really is, and I think there actually is an avenue for the NBA to take action against the Warriors for spreading a baseless rumor against another team that gives a black eye to the league itself. Basically, the Warriors are saying the NBA doesn't care about its players. That's one of the worst things that can be suggested. I do think there's a tampering angle that can be pursued, too, although it's not the kind we usually see, but this is a smear against another team with no grounds and that could impact the Blazers ability to attract and acquire players and throw off competitive balance. If the Blazers are exonerated, I'd like to see them do this, but I don't think they will, simply because it's not going to benefit the Blazers. At worst, GS gets docked a pick or two and gets a decent fine.
It's been accepted. Now they're just trying to throw stuff against a wall to see if it'll stick and they can cover up all the stuff they threw there over the last few days.
Exactly, the fact the Blazers have been accused and an investigation opened, means they are guilty until proven otherwise. The franchise has now suffered defamation across the league. It's in print, it's been talked about on TNT and other sport shows. All without all the facts. That's not even getting to public opinion. Damage has already been done to reputation of the Blazers. And the verdict isn't even in.
Yep. They stepped in it so deep, they could only go deeper to get out the other side. If they kept backing off, sentiment would have turn against them, and they would left looking really bad and be punished themselves.
There's the infuriating thing: The Warriors have done a better PR job because they totally made up something and they have a bigger media network covering them and more national media interested in them. They've literally been forced to walk back everything they've said up to the Nance nonsense. However, none of the Bay media nor people like Sham and Woj are focusing on that. It's like someone driving into your lane, hitting your car and getting out and telling everyone else you damaged their car. Then everyone starts telling that story and ignoring the truth that's coming out.
The Blazers couldn't win the PR battle because no one nationally is trying to sell to the PDX market. Every angle nationally is what this means to the Warriors.
Yeah, but this just makes it even harder. It's like taking the Raptors and forcing them to play in Saskatchewan while raising Canadian taxes even more.
From 95.7 The Game (Bay Area) Breaking News! So Gary Payton Junior was seen around the facility today and it looked like he was ready to play. (Says Damon Bruce). he then reports: A failed physical exam by Gary Payton the 2nd has placed the 4-team deal in serious jeopardy. this is according to Shams and Anthony Slater, his core muscle injury, could sideline him for three months, following a Warriors' exam. Whoa! (Damon Bruce). @Ratto Indy says "I don't know how they ignored this. I think they have to walk the whole trade back." (there's those two names again, Charania and Anthony Slater. )
The deadline's past. The deals have gone through. But all the shaky info GS floated has crashed down, except everyone is 50 miles up the road and they are focused on other stuff now.
I would bet that we never hear another word about it... unless the NBA finds us guilty and then it will magically be all over the news.
the biggest reveal there, if it's true, is that teams are required to report injuries but not required to report treatments for injuries, That's signifcant because it would mean that whether or not Portland reported the Toradol pills is irrelevant unless, somehow, Payton re-injured himself and the Blazers didn't report it I'm not sure what the Warrior are hinging their grievance hat on. I mean, Payton started and played 22 minutes, against the Warriors, 12 hours prior to being trade to the Warriors no wonder they are trying to hide behind the Nance trade
Love it. Maybe that's their new motto: Golden State Warriors Come experience our tsunami of bullshit!
Listening to that Chris Haynes podcast, Haynes mentioned how he never doubted that the trade would happen, despite GS's protestations, he mentioned how GS gave up a ton for GPII, and how "Adam Silver was heavily involved" and "I believe they were trying to see what more they could get out of it..." (roughly 25:30-26:00 minute mark). So, that's Haynes saying their initial strategy was to try to renegotiate the deal, but had no leverage since it was after the trade deadline. That opinion certainly points to GS simply using this previously known injury (still in the process of healing) as nothing more than a renegotiation ploy. It makes sense, because it's a four-team deal, there would have been a lot of pressure on Cronin to give up a pick or two so as to not blow up the deal. Instead, GS gets put on the hot seat, so they just start dragging our name through the mud.
It's worse than that. Portland's local media doesn't even like the team, so there's really no one to fairly report "our" side of the story.
Since the Warriors clearly knew about Payton’s surgery, and since per Hollinger there’s no obligation to disclose treatment, it seems to me the only way the Warriors could get any traction would be if there was evidence that there had been a re-injury that wasn’t disclosed. But given Payton played against the Warriors just a few days before the trade, where’s the evidence of that?
