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Calling for calm on Gary Payton II, plus Warriors’ potential replacements

By Peter O'Keefe

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - MAY 01: Gary Payton II #0 of the Golden State Warriors dunks against Desmond Bane #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies during Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals of the NBA Playoffs at FedExForum on May 01, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - MAY 01: Gary Payton II #0 of the Golden State Warriors dunks against Desmond Bane #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies during Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals of the NBA Playoffs at FedExForum on May 01, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) /

A pessimists perspective on former Warriors’ guard Gary Payton II

If I can play devil’s advocate for a moment – Payton averaged the tenth most minutes of any Warrior during the regular season. Kerr played Damion Lee for more minutes, while veteran Andre Iguodala also played more when he was available.

Payton averaged 7.1 points per game in the regular season, in a system that maximized his athleticism and often hid his offensive weaknesses. He remains a defensive weapon first-and-foremost, with offensive limitations that may very well be more exploited in Portland.

He made a remarkable return from a fractured elbow to play a valuable role in the NBA Finals – a courageous performance that won the hearts of all NBA fans. The other truth is that the Warriors went 7-3 in the ten games he missed, making their way reasonably comfortably through the Western Conference.

None of these points are made to disparage Payton – he’s a winning player who deserves his money and is capable of playing 15-25 minutes in any playoff rotation. This is more about identifying the fact that he’s not a star player, that at best he was the Warriors’ seventh most important player this season.

I’ve seen arguments suggesting that his departure could cost the Warriors the title next season, a point I find very hard to believe. NBA championships are won by superstar players, supplemented by role players such as Payton.

Golden State won the championship because they had the best player on the floor – Stephen Curry. Boston lost the Finals because their best player, Jayson Tatum, was well below his best and was outplayed by Andrew Wiggins.

If the Warriors fail to complete back-to-back championships next season, then identifying Payton’s departure will likely be a very easy and convenient reason behind it.

But ultimately, the truth is that any playoff exit will be because one or multiple of their core four, Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andrew Wiggins, have disappointing, unproductive series’.

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