As the Lakers look to round out their roster with defensive-minded perimeter players, one insider says they’re monitoring a veteran guard who meets their criteria and has a history with the organization.
Lakers Could Steal Defensive Ace with Ties to NBA Royalty
Gary Payton II “Very Much” on Lakers Radar
In a Thursday night post on X, ClutchPoints’ Anthony Irwin wrote that the Lakers are keeping tabs on free agent guard Gary Payton II, the son of the nine-time All-Star and Hall of Fame point guard who won an NBA title with the Heat in 2006. The elder Payton also played for the Lakers during their 2004 Finals run alongside Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Derek Fisher and Karl Malone.
The link between GP2 and the Lakers began not long after he signed with Bill Duffy of WME Sports, the same agent who represents three current Lakers: Luka Doncic, Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes.
There were some whispers connecting Gary Payton II to the Lakers even before he signed with Bill Duffy. I can safely say he’s very much on the Lakers’ radar.
— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) July 18, 2025
The 32-year-old guard is familiar with the Lakers, and not just because of his father’s tenure. The purple and gold gave Payton II one of his first opportunities in the league in 2018, signing him to a two-way contract. Though he played sparingly for LA then, GP2 eventually found a solid home with the Golden State Warriors, holding two stints with the franchise (2020-22 and 2023-present). He recently put up 6.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists on 57% shooting from the field. His career stats may not jump off the page, but Payton II has made a name for himself as an athletic point-of-attack defender, a notable area of weakness the Lakers are aiming to address this offseason.
Could the Lakers Use Payton II Again?
Seeing how elite Payton II’s defense has been for the Warriors, it’s no surprise why the Lakers may be interested in him again this summer. With the team’s POA defense suffering due to injuries and inconsistency, the team could use someone who thrives on that end of the floor, often tasked with stopping opposing stars regardless of their position.
Aside from his lockdown defense, Payton II has shown flashes of standout three-level scoring, most notably in a career-high 26 points against the Trail Blazers in March. His scoring also came in clutch during the playoffs, where he dropped 16 points off the bench in a pivotal Game 3 win over the Rockets in round one. Though GP2 gets his buckets inside the arc, he keeps defenses honest with a decent three-point shot. Payton’s offensive game is certainly promising, and his output can only improve next to Doncic and LeBron James.
But despite Payton’s value as a rotational piece, his availability is a major concern. The former Oregon State guard has missed 58 games over the last two seasons and was hit by the injury bug several times this year. It shouldn’t limit the Lakers from considering him, but they should take his history into account—especially for a roster that endured significant absences last season.
Still, Gary Payton II can help the Lakers immensely, shoring up the team’s defense while developing his offensive repertoire. In an offseason filled with reunions, it seems right for this to happen next.
© Candice Ward-Imagn Images
The post Lakers Could Steal Defensive Ace with Ties to NBA Royalty appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.