As unfortunate as it is, the Golden State Warriors can’t afford to retain all of their key assets from the 2024-25 campaign.
In Blue Man Hoop’s Peter O’Keefe’s opinion, the organization may move on from a fan favorite and NBA champion guard in free agency.
“(Gary) Payton remains an impactful role player for Golden State, but he might not be the same game-changing perimeter defender that made him such a valuable piece of the 2022 championship team and that ultimately earned him a big payday straight after,” O’Keefe wrote Thursday.
“Payton had a stretch after the All-Star break where he got hot from three-point range, but otherwise still shot just 32.6% from deep for the season as opposing teams continued to leave him wide open.”
“That's not to say that Golden State should just discard Payton and not look to re-sign him, but they need to make the call that a one-year, veteran minimum contract is all that he's worth on this iteration of the roster.”
"If Payton feels disrespected by that and walks to another team as a result, then so be it. Perhaps he draws a bigger deal elsewhere from someone in need of more perimeter defense, but the Warriors should let that rival team take the risk on a player who is largely unproven outside the Steve Kerr system.”
Payton, who graduated from Oregon State in 2016, signed with the Warriors in 2021 after spending extended time in the NBA G League.
Known for his disruptive on-ball defense and sneaky athleticism, Payton became a beloved member of the organization during their 2021-22 championship run.
While the 32-year-old veteran inked a three-year deal with the Portland Trail Blazers that offseason, but returned to the Bay in 2023 via midseason trade.
Sadly, Payton hasn’t taken the next step in his offensive game, making him an asset the franchise can live without. Beyond occasional backdoor cuts and transition baskets, Payton’s skill set is limited.
The unrestricted free agent averaged 6.5 points per game with Golden State this season, shooting 57.4% from the field and 32.6% from three.
If the Warriors decide to let Payton walk this summer, it shouldn't be a massive surprise to the public.
