Sign or decline with 6 Golden State Warriors’ FA’s
By Tony Pesta
Sign Gary Payton II
You probably won’t find another player like Gary Payton II on the market this summer. The world’s tallest 6’3″ man deserves to remain in the Bay.
Benefits
Payton is a unique talent in the NBA. A hyperfocused, defensive-minded point guard with springs in his feet that allow him to apply pressure to the rim as a… lob threat?
The Warriors were able to use Payton in interesting ways all season long. Sitting in the dunker spot, Payton made numerous breathtaking plays above the basket and was a quality offensive rebounder.
Most of all, he knew his role. Payton harrassed opposing ball handlers and passed up open 3-pointers in favor of finding Stephen Curry.
Concerns
Two concerns come to mind.
Firstly, will Payton seek a bigger payday? He’s certainly earned it and if a team offers a deal the Warriors can’t match, there will be no hard feelings.
The other is Payton’s age. He’s turning 30 in December and athleticism tends to trail off quickly for point guards. Without his lateral quickness and vertical explosiveness, Payton is not much of an asset.
Luckily, GP2 has shown no signs of slowing just yet. The Dubs would be foolish to let him walk this summer.