From realgm wiretap:

Payton says no to Boston
08/15 -
7:29 AM
As expected the contraversy surrounding Gary Payton and his trade to Eastward to the Boston Celtics continued to be drama-riddled yesterday, with Payton making it clear via telephone that his non-presence in Boston at the time when he was meant to report after being traded from the Lakers was no accident.

While he says it is nothing against the Celtics organization, Payton is quite aminant that he will not be playing in the East this season. Despite his rights currently being owned by Boston he says he'll retire before he reports, claiming he has been disrespected by the Lakers organization.

"I wasn't going to Boston to take a physical," he said. "I ain't going to move my family no more. I can't take my family to Boston. It ain't no disrespect to Boston."

Payton says he prefers to be moved on to either Houston, Minnesota or the Clippers, but if the Celtics decide not to make another trade Payton will have no choice but to become a Celtic or forfeit the $5.4 million remaining on his contract.

"I don't care about that," Payton said. "If it goes down, I'll quit. I can go on and do something else."

Payton said had he known the Lakers were going to trade him, he wouldn't have exercised his contract option for next season.

"They used me to sign so they could get other players," Payton said. "Boston is going to lose out on this. They ain't going to get (nothing). It's about respect. They (the Lakers) didn't respect me. Why should I respect them?"

Not good news for the boys in green.

Payton's been saying this since he got traded to Mil.

this was stupid on Ainges part. I'm glad it blew up

payton's value continues to degrade on every move that envolves him: buck's trade, playing for the lakers, and now the celtics trade. ainge has no choice, and should not try to back out. will payton's place end up in houston ?

Posted by fishmike:

Payton's been saying this since he got traded to Mil.

this was stupid on Ainges part. I'm glad it blew up

yea, ainge is a fool and that is becomming known league wide, but payton should have known with the shaq situation that LA was dealing underhandedly...

Payton is a punk and he will forever be known to me as a selfish pig.

Be professional and play for Boston. If you want to be traded let Ainge know behind the scenes.....If he's tired of moving his family make them stay in one of the 5 or six mansions they have out west. He has maybe 2 years left in his tank anyway.

Or just retire a punk behind, selfish , sellout.

Go Knicks

Gary Would have opted out if he could have gotten more money elseware.

The sonics did not want to max extend him, and he was disrespected. He was traded to Milwaukee, speaks for itself.

He sold out and went to the lakes, and did not respect his game, or he just is aging out. and he reupped in Lakes cuz he does not have many options.

Another song: "the love you is equal to the love you make": Beatles.

Gary got his. He should shut up, rent a brownstone, and get his game back up and build his cred. He can take care of everything on the floor, and then mid season say he will not resign with celts and either get released or traded to a team condending. But respect is not what you have done, but what your going to do.