Boston Isn’t a Fit, Glove Says

Gary Payton might never play again, but he continues to influence two teams at once, forcing Boston Celtic officials to shift uncomfortably and sharply criticizing the Lakers in the aftermath of the Aug. 6 trade that ended Payton’s turbulent, one-year stay with the team.

Traded to the Celtics as part of a five-player deal, Payton has refused to report for a physical with his new team, a move that left Celtic officials on the defensive Monday in their first public comments since the trade.

“There are no updates as far as Gary’s desires,” Director of Operations Danny Ainge told reporters. “We’re still very excited, and very hopeful, of getting Gary in a Celtics uniform.

“I think Gary was shocked about how the whole thing went down. The issues Gary is facing with his family are real. I’m optimistic and hopeful that Gary will come and play for the Boston Celtics.”

Payton told Laker officials he wanted to stay in Los Angeles because his 16-year-old daughter is starting high school. Payton also has said that he did not expect to be traded after exercising a one-year, $5.4-million option a few weeks after the Lakers had lost to the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals.

Payton, 36, is entrenched on the West Coast -- he has homes in Los Angeles, Oakland and Las Vegas. He has played 1,081 of his 1,109 NBA games with Western Conference teams, and has said that he would retire instead of playing for the Celtics.

In an interview last week with the Riverside Press-Enterprise, Payton said the Lakers erred in trading him.

“It’s about respect,” Payton told the newspaper. “They didn’t respect me. Why should I respect them? They used me so they could get other players.

“Boston is going to lose out. They ain’t going to get nothing.”

Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak, who is on vacation, was unavailable for comment. Laker spokesman John Black could not be reached for comment.

Payton averaged 14.6 points and 5.5 assists last season, well below his career averages, and fell to only 7.8 points in the playoffs. He was a disruption at times and complained about his lack of playing time in the playoffs.

Even if Payton chooses not to report when Celtic training camp begins in October, the trade is still official, leaving the Celtics with a net gain of about $2 million and a lottery-protected first-round selection in next year’s draft.

Rick Fox, who also was obtained by the Celtics in the trade, is expected to retire.

Payton’s refusal to show up for a physical caused a reconfiguration of the trade Friday at the Lakers’ expense. The Lakers returned to the Celtics intriguing young point guard Marcus Banks and received Jumaine Jones, another small forward in an already overcrowded Laker frontcourt. The Lakers also returned a second-round draft choice to the Celtics.

The Lakers ended up with Jones, reserve forward Chris Mihm and veteran Chucky Atkins, who is penciled in to start at point guard.

Ainge came to Los Angeles after the trade to meet with Payton and sell the nine-time All-Star on playing for the Celtics. Payton has not talked to Celtic officials since leaving a few days later on a vacation with his family.

Banks, who went to UNLV and was a Laker fan, was not happy about being sent back to the Celtics after the trade was revised, although Ainge on Monday put on a positive spin.

“We never wanted to move Marcus, so we’re excited to get him back,” Ainge said.