The veteran may have to find a new home next season.
Per Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area, Gary Payton II is “doubtful” to return to the Golden State Warriors next season.
Payton will become an unrestricted free agent on Monday. Per Poole’s article:
“It’s looking doubtful,” one source said Friday.
“Golden State still likes him, and there’s still a chance he’s back,” another source said of the Warriors. “But they have a lot of moving parts as they work through the Jonathan Kuminga situation, so Gary could land elsewhere next season.”
While Payton has become a fan favorite since playing a key role in the Warriors’ 2022 championship, bouts of inconsistency and injuries have plagued his second stint with the team, one that began after a controversial stint with the Portland Trail Blazers. Should Payton depart, the Warriors will miss his peskiness at the point of attack, athleticism unusual in a 6’3” frame, and his presence in the locker room. But the aforementioned injuries and inconsistency on the court — as well as the prioritization of Kuminga and other potential acquisitions — may push Payton out of the organization that has given him the best stretch of his professional career.