Gary Payton II has been one of the biggest revelations of the season for the 28-9 Warriors, and his stellar play has made it a no-brainer for the team to guarantee his contract.
The deadline for players to have their salaries fully guaranteed for the 2021-22 season is Jan. 10, but all players must be waived by Jan. 7 if a team opts against guaranteeing a deal. For Payton II, who’s averaging 7.9 points in 16.9 minutes per game, the choice was clear.
“I’m going to make that decision right now,” GSW coach Steve Kerr told reporters Thursday. “We’re going to guarantee him the rest of the year.”
Payton II has emerged as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders. Kerr added that his defensive acumen can make him an strong option in any matchup, even at the highest levels.
Since going undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft, Payton II has been signed and discarded by six teams — the Rockets, Bucks, Blazers, Lakers, Wizards and Warriors. Even Golden State waived him shortly before the 2021-22 season, but then re-signed him three days later.
After bouncing around for five years, Payton II has finally found a home. He’ll make $1,669,178 with Golden State this year. If he continues to play at the level he has, it’s quite possible, the Warriors will show interest in a longer term deal as well.
