Tag: Gary Payton II

Report: Gary Payton II opts in to player option for next season with Warriors

Gary Payton II averaged 5.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 44 games with the Warriors last season.

With the NBA Finals complete with the Boston Celtics being crowned champions, the offseason is officially underway for the entire association. Only days into the summer, one member of the Golden State Warriors is already handling business.

According to Kendra Andrews of ESPN, Golden State guard Gary Payton II has opted in to his $9.1 million player option for next season. With Payton II opting in, the Warriors now have the ability to extend his contract, include him in a trade, or keep him with his current contract.

Via @kendra__andrews on Twitter:

Payton is coming off a season where he played 44 games, averaging 5.5 points on 56.3% shooting from the field and 36.4% from deep. Payton II added 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 15.5 minutes per game.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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Warriors land 26-year-old shot blocker in latest proposed trade

The proposed trade would land a 7-foot shot-blocker with the Golden State Warriors, but it would cost Moses Moody.

This past season, one of the Golden State Warriors‘ biggest weaknesses was a lack of size in the frontcourt. Opposing teams often succeeded by pressuring the rim and forcing the Warriors to send multiple bodies into the paint.

As such, Golden State could look to add a rim protector during the offseason.

In a recent article for Bleacher Report, Zach Buckley proposed a trade that would see the Warriors acquire Mitchell Robinson from the New York Knicks in return for Gary Payton II, Moses Moody and a 2026 first-round draft pick.

“The Knicks have tangible proof they can win big without Robinson, so maybe they aren’t keen on keeping his $14.3 million salary on their books,” Buckley reasoned. “The Warriors, who could be angling for more size, could give New York an out with Robinson while sending back a bulldog defender in Payton, a young three-and-D wing in Moody and a lightly protected future first-round pick to help reel in a bigger fish at a later date.”

Mitchell is a legitimate 7-footer who can protect the rim, rebound at an elite level and operate as a rim-runner on offense. He could thrive in the Warriors’ spaced-out offense, where he would have significant room to roam in the paint and provide vertical spacing due to his lob threat.

Robinson could help beef up Golden State’s defense while giving them a new dimension on the offensive end. However, the price of trading Moody may be too costly for a non-shooting big man.

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Watch: Gary Payton II’s best miked up moments of the season

Watch Gary Payton’s best miked up moments from the 2023-24 Golden State Warriors’ season.

The Golden State Warriors season may be over, but that isn’t stopping the team from keeping its fan base engaged as the playoffs pick up speed. In the latest release from the Warriors social media team, they’ve treated fans to a “best of” montage of Gary Payton II’s miked up moments from the 2023-24 season.

Payton II, 31, played in 44 games for Steve Kerr’s team this season due to multiple injuries that limited his availability. As such, he didn’t have the defensive impact many had hoped. Nevertheless, his all-action style of play continued to endear himself to the Warriors fan base, as did his humorous personality.

It’s likely we see Payton II again next season. He has a player option on his contract worth $9.1 million. Due to his lack of availability this season, it would make sense if he opted in to staying with the hope of rebuilding his value ahead of next summer.

You can watch the best of Payton II’s miked up moments from this season by clicking on the embedded video above.

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Injury Report: Warriors’ Gary Payton II out for play-in game vs. Kings

The Warriors will be without a key piece in the second unit for the play-in tournament.

In a win-or-go-home play-in tournament game on Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings, the Golden State Warriors will be without a key contributor off the bench.

On Monday, Steve Kerr announced Gary Payton II will miss Tuesday’s game against the Kings. Along with missing Tuesday’s elimination game in Sacramento, Kerr ruled out Payton II for Golden State’s second play-in game on Friday if the Warriors were to win and advance.

Via @kendra__andrews on Twitter:

Payton II was sidelined for the Warriors’ final three games of the regular season with a calf injury. Payton II has played 44 games this season, averaging 5.5 points on 56.3% shooting from the field with 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 15.5 minutes off the bench.

With Payton II out, the Warriors will likely use Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody alongside Chris Paul in their second-unit backcourt.

The Warriors will meet the Kings at 7 p.m. PT in the first round of the play-in tournament on Tuesday evening. While the loser’s season will be over, the winner will advance to play the loser of the No. 7 seed New Orleans Pelicans and No. 8 seed Los Angeles Lakers.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

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Steve Kerr praises two key veteran role players

Steve Kerr had some high praise for two of his veteran role players following the Golden State Warriors win over the Utah Jazz.

When you think of the Golden State Warriors, you instantly think of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Chris Paul. Yet, it was Gary Payton II and Kevon Looney who received praise following their roles in the Warriors’ win over the Utah Jazz on Sunday (April 7).

Head coach Steve Kerr praised his two veteran role players when speaking to the media after the game. He noted how their play styles are important to the roster and how both players can be relied upon night in and night out.

“I love watching Gary play,” Kerr said. “There’s an energy about him. He also makes the right play. Constantly catching the ball and swinging it. That’s the way he can dive and finish at the rim. He’s a terrific player. I thought Loon was great tonight. He’s been out of the rotation quite a bit. I hated ending his consecutive-game streak. It was awful. But we did what we needed to do to get our team going…Now, he’s played the last five games…Really fun to see him out there.”

Looney and Payton II have been in and out of Golden State’s rotation this season due to lineup management or injury. Nevertheless, both veterans have been impactful on the court when healthy and in the rotation.

Golden State will need their role players to continue stepping up in the coming weeks. The franchise has a tough road to the playoffs, with two play-in tournament games potentially on the horizon.

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Gary Payton II discusses Steve Kerr’s contract extension

Gary Payton II shared his thoughts on Steve Kerr’s two-year contract extension.

On Friday (Feb. 23), ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Steve Kerr has agreed to a two-year contract extension worth $35 million. The deal will make him the highest-paid coach in the NBA. As you would expect, Kerr’s new deal was a significant talking point during post-game interviews following the Golden State Warriors victory over the Hornets.

During his media availability, Gary Payton II discussed Kerr’s contract extension and the veteran head coach’s impact on his career. Payton II also credited Kerr for giving him his first real chance in the NBA and showing trust in his abilities throughout his career.

“Congrats to coach Steve, well deserved,” Payton II said. “Shout out to Mike Dunleavy for getting it done. Coach actually gave me my first shot, my first real shot…He told me, just be me, do what you do. We’re not worried about offensively. Just find your spots as time comes. Other than that, he literally just threw me in the fire. I ain’t have nobody. No organization or coaching staff gave me that confidence. He gave me that when I first got here. It ended up working out. I’m here today. I appreciate him and all the guys who believed in him and told him I could play and I can hoop.”

Payton II has dealt with two separate injuries this season. Now that he’s back in the rotation, he’s making an impact for the Warriors on the defensive end. Golden State will undoubtedly be hoping that he remains healthy moving forward due to his importance in the team’s second unit.

Golden State has now won eight of their last 10 games. They’re aiming to break into the top six of the Western Conference. If they continue on their current trajectory, they will put themselves in with a good chance of achieving that goal.

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Injury Report: Warriors’ Gary Payton II cleared to return vs. Suns on Saturday

The Golden State Warriors are set to get a boost with the return of a key player on Saturday against the Phoenix Suns.

After a successful 4-1 road swing, the Golden State Warriors will welcome Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and the Phoenix Suns to Chase Center on Saturday evening in San Francisco. When they face the high-powered Suns, the Warriors should get a boost with the return of a key player.

Following a 14-game absence due to a left hamstring strain, Gary Payton II has been cleared to return to the court. Chris Paul remains the only player ruled out for Saturday’s prime-time matchup against the Suns.

Via @anthonyVslater on X:

In 16 games, Payton is averaging 5.4 points on 45.6% shooting from the field with three rebounds in 16.3 minutes per game. Payton will slide in behind Steph Curry and Klay Thompson in Golden State’s reserve backcourt with Brandin Podziemski, Lester Quinones and Moses Moody.

The Warriors will tip off against the Suns at 5:30 p.m. PT on Saturday in San Francisco.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and X! 

Gary Payton II hints at potential return against Suns on Instagram

Gary Payton II shared a potential teaser regarding his return to the Golden State Warriors rotation on Instagram.

Gary Payton II has missed the Golden State Warriors last 16 games. He has been dealing with a hamstring injury he sustained when playing the Orlando Magic on Jan. 2. He had only been back in the rotation for two games after overcoming a calf injury that had kept him out for a 13-game stretch in November and December.

However, it would appear the veteran wing is nearing a return. In fact, Payton may have teased when his first game back will be by posting an image to Instagram. In the post, Payton can be seen standing at halfcourt while playing against the Phoenix Suns. The Warriors are set to play Phoenix on Saturday.

Golden State has looked like a vastly improved team in recent weeks. Payton return would help solidify the rotation and provide some additional defensive stability.

Listen, if this is Gary dropping hints that he’s making his return against the Suns on Saturday…
byu/taygads inwarriors

We will likely get an update regarding Payton’s return ahead of the Suns game. However, it’s clear he will be back on the floor sooner rather than later, and that will likely be welcomed news to the Warriors coaching staff.

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Steve Kerr doesn’t expect Warriors to trade two key veterans

Steve Kerr isn’t expecting either veteran to be moved at the trade deadline due to difficulty in replacing their talent.

The Feb. 8 trade deadline is just over a week away. The Golden State Warriors have been rumored to be actively seeking opportunities to upgrade their roster following a tough first half of the season.

Yet, given the talent and veteran experience within the locker room, it’s hard to pinpoint where a legitimate talent upgrade will come from.

During a recent interview with “Willard & Dibs” on 95.7 The Game, Steve Kerr noted it’s unlikely Golden State looks to move on from Chris Paul or Gary Payton II. Both veterans have dealt with injuries in recent months, but could provide significant upside once they return to the rotation.

“We’re not gonna find better players than those guys in a trade,” Kerr said. “It’s exceedingly rare to make a deal to where you can upgrade your talent to that level. I’m excited about getting those guys back, Moses, too. … I think a deal is almost always unlikely, but that doesn’t mean a deal won’t happen. That’s Mike’s job anyway. It’s not anything that I concern myself with. Mike will call me and keep me in the loop if something’s going on.”

Paul is widely viewed as one of the Warriors’ primary trade chips. The final year of his contract, which kicks in after the current season ends, is not guaranteed, which could be enticing to multiple teams around the NBA.

However, with the Warriors looking to get their season back on track, they will likely value Paul’s leadership and skill set more than moving his money off the books within the next week.

Kerr recently settled on a new frontcourt trio of Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, and Jonathan Kuminga, and early signs are encouraging. As such, the Warriors may choose to stand pat and let their roster get healthy rather than making a move at the deadline.

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Gary Payton II excites fans with workout video on Instagram

The Golden State Warriors veteran is working on a return from injury.

Gary Payton II has endured a difficult season for the Golden State Warriors due to multiple injuries. The veteran wing is recovering from his latest injury, a left hamstring strain. Payton also missed 13 games due to a calf injury earlier in the season.

However, the veteran wing has begun teasing a potential return to the rotation. In a recent post on the “Jetsthetics_” Instagram page titled “Bounce Back,” Payton can be seen putting the work in, both in the gym and on the basketball court.

Payton has participated in 16 games for the Warriors this season. He’s averaging 5.4 points and 3 rebounds, shooting 45.6% from the field and 28.1% from 3-point range. Payton’s defense has been sorely missed, and Steve Kerr will likely be pleased when he can welcome him back into the Warriors rotation, as he will provide a significant boost to the bench unit.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2QtB9sPyhv/?igsh=MXU5c2dveHFvb3BuZg%3D%3D

You can watch the full video by clicking on the embedded link above.