The emergence of Gary Payton II as a part of the Golden State Warriors has become one of the best stories in the NBA. The son of Hall-of-Famer Gary Payton has taken after his father with his defensive prowess.
In other words, Payton II has become one of the best defenders in the league. His time spent going back and forth between the NBA and G-league has helped him perfect his game.
Golden State has their work cut out for them if they are looking to run it back with the same championship-winning roster next year. They already have the largest luxury tax bill in the league and that will increase if they pay Payton II.
According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the Golden State Warriors are considered the favorites to sign Gary Payton II in free agency. The Dallas Mavericks were mentioned among other ‘serious suitors’ for his services.
The Warriors are considered to be the favorites to retain Payton’s services. It isn’t a secret how much he loves the Warriors’ environment, the Bay Area and his fit as a defensive pest and off-ball slasher in a Curry-fueled environment…Payton is expected to command interest on the open market. The Mavericks are considered among the most serious suitors.
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The Golden State Warriors had the second-best defensive rating in the NBA during the regular season at 106.6. Payton II was a big reason for that. He gets the nickname “young glove” for his ability to cover all types of offensive threats. In addition, he is a fan favorite, there was no better time to recognize that than throughout the season.
The amount of money Gary Payton II will command is uncertain. But, expect a multi-year deal to be offered at the very least. It seems the two Western Conference finalists will go head-to-head again for the services of Payton II.
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However, after winning a title in the Bay it would be surprising if the “young glove” found a new home. His cutting ability gets maximized playing in the Warriors’ offense with how teams load up and blitz Stephen Curry above the break and how Draymond Green makes plays out of the short-roll. Is overall hustle has proven to be valuable as well.