Gary Payton II might have played himself out of the Golden State Warriors' price range. The undrafted guard came out of nowhere and proved that he's a rotation-level player, especially on defense. Because of his stellar play, many teams looking to pry Payton away from the Bay.
One of these teams is an old rival of the Warriors: Portland. According to Jake Fischer, the Blazers are seemingly the frontrunners in the pursuit of the free agent guard. Fischer reported that Portland currently has the biggest offer for Gary Payton II, going up to $8 million.
Gary Payton II has drawn a strong offer from the Trail Blazers among other suitors, sources said. I’m told Portland has the richest contract, roughly $8M, out to the versatile defender, but still mutual interest in Payton’s return to Golden State. Bruce Brown another POR target.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) July 1, 2022
However, Fischer didn't deny the possibility of Payton II returning to the Warriors. That's great news for Dubs fans, who surely want to see the homegrown talent run it back for their title defense.
The Warriors also have a bevy of players that could be leaving in free agency. Aside from Payton II, Otto Porter Jr. and Kevon Looney are going to be unrestricted free agents. The three players' vital role in the Warriors' championship run surely means that they will get big offers from rival teams. Considering their contract situation, some of these players might have to be let go…
Then again, Joe Lacob hasn't shied away from paying big money to keep the Warriors competitive. The front office will surely find a way to keep most, if not all, of their championship-winning roster, even if it means going deep into the luxury task. We will give you updates on Gary Payton II's free agent situation, as well as other major free agent acquisitions.
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