Gary Payton II is nearing a contract with the Wizards, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. The G League guard was held out of today’s Showcase game in Las Vegas.
Payton is averaging 21.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 3.2 steals in 16 games for the South Bay Lakers. He has played 113 G League games in his career, but only 32 in the NBA, including three with the Wizards last season. He also had short stays with the Bucks and Lakers.
Washington doesn’t expect to make another move before adding Payton to the roster, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic (Twitter link). The Wizards have applied to the league for a hardship provision that they expect to be granted. It will allow them to carry a 16th player as long as their injury woes continue.
His G-League stats seem to indicate he’s got his father’s ability to get steals… will be interesting to see if this can translate at the NBA level. But happy for him to see him getting a shot in the NBA… He’s seemed to have done all he can in the G-League to show teams he’s deserving.
He’s been in the G-League for over 3 years now.
And your point is?? Some players take longer to tap into their potential than others
His last game in the g league he had 38 points 12 rebounds and 4 steals… if that’s not good enough… Then what is?
There are at least 20 dudes on teams rosters there just because of $ or draft status with little to actually offer. You can probably find 20 dudes in the G League that can provide more in one or 2 categories.