Why the Warriors haven’t done enough: They let Gary Payton II walk
The Warriors let Gary Payton II walk.
While it was a three-year deal and that seemed to break their interest, losing out on a key defender that brought that extra layer of grit is important. Payton II kickstarted his career in Golden State after several failed stays at other organizations.
Payton II’s offensive woes were hidden by the excellence of Curry and five-time All-Star guard Klay Thompson, but that should again be true in Portland with Damian Lillard taking the bulk of the scoring load.
Letting Payton II go will be far easier to take if second-year guard Moses Moody and recently signed former Bucks first-round pick Donte DiVincenzo step up.
Payton II had the team’s second-best net rating in the playoffs. He was the only player on the team with a 100 or under net rating. His absence will be felt, and it may take into effect until the postseason.
However, replacing Payton II with DiVencenzo will have long-term damage on the team’s defensive ceiling.