Gary Payton II will be a free agent again when his 10-day contract with the Warriors expires tonight, and the team is still deciding on its next move, according to Drew Shiller of NBC Sports Bay Area.
Golden State has already signed Payton to a pair of 10-day deals, which is the limit for a season, so it would have to give him a contract through the end of the season to keep him on the roster. That’s still a possibility, but it won’t happen right away.
“Gary practiced today, but he will not go on the trip,” coach Steve Kerr said. “We are exploring our options as we wind down the season. There’s a chance that we would bring him back. That’s the hope. But we have some things to consider. The front office is going through their process and we’ll see how it plays out.”
One thing the Warriors will consider is Payton’s effect on the luxury tax, points out Connor Letourneau of The San Francisco Chronicle. Once Payton’s contract expires, Golden State will be down to 13 players plus a pair of two-way deals. The team will have 14 days to add a player to get back to the league minimum.
Payton, 28, got into 10 games for the Warriors during his 20 days with the team. He averaged 2.5 points per game in just 4.0 minutes per night and had a team best defensive rating of 101.1.
“Gary played really well,” Kerr said. “He’s somebody who we feel like we’d love to have back. He’s got to consider his own options as well. So, we’ll see how it works out.”
Hard to believe he can’t find a permanent job on somebody’s bench. The guy plays great defense and has a little bit of a shot. Defense doesn’t get enough praise in the NBA.
That seems kind of harsh. It’s like telling a girl that you might want to keep seeing her, but first let me see if I can do any better next week.
High IQ player who brings lots of energy? Kerr says: “Doesnt fit our system, we need more Bazemore minutes so he can continue to infuriate the fans with his dumb turnovers and mental mistakes every time he touches the ball” smh
It doesn’t matter how good the Warriors are. Your job is to pretend you know more about basketball than anyone that has ever ACTUALLY played the game, and bash Kerr.
I actually HAVE played the game. You know, if you don’t like my comments, the mute button exists. Shame to see a supposed GSW fan treat a fellow fan the same way.
Two things can cause crimes… consolidating dislikes and inability to discharge a thought. And then there’s drug use.
This is not just the Warriors rejecting Gary Payton’s play or contribution. He has trouble sticking everywhere. Don’t bash the Warriors for not keeping this guy.
Plus the language they’re using, it’s beneficial isn’t it? Instead of saying it just didn’t work out, we’re cutting him, they’re letting the league know he has favorable reviews. He’s been great, we’d love to keep him but holding off right now. I think they’re doing Gary the best they can. They gave him two 10 day deals, played him some minutes, gave him exposure. What more could a guy want?
You know, his dad has been running his mouth about Steph Curry, insinuating as if there are players that are better than him – I bet that has something to do with it. Shame because his son is an asset on any team.
All these old-school, slow-play-era types really need to just bow down to the true GOATs, and admit most of the superstars of today would win MVP every single season in the 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s.
Yes Marty, I think you’re right, and did you see the other night against the Mavericks there was a couple plays where Hardaway Junior went against Peyton junior and it seemed like there was a little something there. A little ego or whatever you want to call it. Seems like Hardaway wanted to be the man and prove something to Payton on a drive or two to the hoop. Im sure it’s nothing really but I just sensed a little something.
I feel like if he doesn’t get signed because of a rather minute luxury tax penalty and the coach is on record that they want him back, he might have possible grievance case.
His grievance would be with his union of changing the rules in the next contract. A team trying to save money under the tax line is not a grievance with them but the union contract.