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Posted on Fri, Aug. 13, 2004


Lakers-Celtics Trade Amended Over Payton

Associated Press


EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - A multiplayer trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics was amended Friday after Gary Payton refused to report to Boston for a physical by a deadline, the Lakers said.

A Celtics spokesman said Boston had agreed in advance to waive the requirement that Payton undergo a physical exam on Friday.

"The team waived his physical as part of the amended trade," Celtics spokesman Bill Bonsiewicz said. "It (the physical) obviously became moot as part of this deal."

The amended trade will now give Los Angeles 6-foot-8 forward Jumaine Jones instead of guard Marcus Banks, and Boston will no longer be required to give up its second-round draft choice.

Lakers spokesman John Black said the trade had to be amended because it was contingent on all players reporting to their new teams for physicals by Friday afternoon.

"Gary Payton refused to go to Boston and do that," Black said.

Boston waived the Payton contingency, and in consideration the Lakers had to switch terms of the deal, he said.

The Celtics expect Payton to report for training camp Oct. 4, Bonsiewicz said.

The terms of the original Aug. 6 trade called for the Lakers to send Payton, Rick Fox and a conditional first-round draft pick to Boston in exchange for Chucky Atkins, Chris Mihm, Banks and a second-round draft choice.

Poor...poor laker fans.... Payton really stuck it to them!

Edited because for some reason my reading comprehension skills have gone down the toilet this evening.