Warriors swingman Gary Payton II will be active for Saturday’s game against Dallas, head coach Steve Kerr told reporters, including Kendra Andrews of ESPN (Twitter link). Payton will be on an unspecified minutes restriction, per Andrews.
Payton has been sidelined since November 28, having missed the past 13 games with a right calf strain. He practiced on Wednesday, but missed Thursday’s loss to Miami. In 14 games this season (17.3 MPG), he has averaged 5.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG and 1.2 SPG on .479/.320/.667 shooting.
A 6’2″ guard whose athleticism and defensive skills allow him to slide up to forward at times, Payton has dealt with numerous injuries throughout his career, including being limited to just 22 games in 2022/23. The 31-year-old was a key member of Golden State’s championship run in ’21/22.
It will be interesting to see how Kerr handles the rotation tomorrow. Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga, Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins are among the players who could see fewer minutes, assuming Payton plays.
Payton is earning $8.7MM this season and holds a $9.1MM player option for ’24/25. The Warriors have had an up-and-down season thus far and are currently 15-16, the No. 11 seed in the West.
Dunleavy Jr sucks
Giving Draymond that money kills Tthe future of Warriors
Draymond is worth $10 million per year
That’s a bizarre statement. He traded Poole for CP3 which has allowed Kuminga to blossom. He drafted Podz and Trayce Jr who have been excellent. Moody game keeps getting better because of CP3. The Warriors future actually looks pretty good. There only problem right now is finding enough minutes for everyone. Last year, the bench completely sucked.
Even though his value isn’t at his peak Draymond was playing well outside of his histrionics. There’s a chance Detroit is desperate enough to start winning that they would trade for him right now.
Draymond for Joe Harris OR for Wiseman/Alec Burks and the Pistons throw in a ‘28 pick swap or their ‘29 protected first rounder.
Pistons shore up their disasterous defense (29th in the nba), Warriors get off Draymond’s long-term money and then look to flip Harris at the deadline with all their future picks and three swaps for Markannen.
Draymond for Wiseman? That will never happen. You do realize that there was a reason they traded Wiseman. The situation would be even worse now. They could possibly sign him in Free Agency. But, you have to wait and see how his season goes. Why should they trade all their future picks for Markannen? What makes you think Utah would want to trade him? Be realistic.
Markannen is an outstanding player on a losing team. Gotta maximize the remainder of Curry’s window.
Wiseman is a salary dump, the point is Detroit might be desperate to get better and give up a pick or a pic swap
Homers still calling for the warriors to trade the league manufactured heel. Never going to happen.
We all love GP2, but why is he always injured since he got that 3 yr contract? Is it just coincidence? Is his body already breaking down? Is he not working hard enough in the offseason? Bottom line is that he needs to be available to play.
He was injured fairly often before he got that deal also.
it happens in all sports..there’s always an athlete that’s prone to injury more often than others..unfortunate events that send them back to the IL..there’s also a high probability that a previous injury gets injured again or causes a new injury due to the body compensation..
Chris Paul and Santos for Bogdanovic Hayes and Wiseman with 2nds
Bogdanovic? Maybe 3 years ago. Did you watch him in the fourth quarter and overtime against the celtics? He missed everything and kept shooting.
Definitely Not the guy you want on a championship aspiring team like the Warriors trying to put it together for one more push. And James Wiseman? That is really not using the noggin. They would not trade for him back.
Should of kept Poole, Rollins and Baldwin with those picks. All they got was another PG in Chris Paul. Yuck. He drafted really well though. All they had to do was pay Poole less. An expensive Poole
It wasn’t so much the money for Poole though that was definitely a factor and four more years, Pooles attitude was crappy.
Haven’t you heard that he’s worn out his welcome with the Wizards also?
Baldwin and rollins? They’re getting zero playing time in Washington. Why would the Warriors want to keep two failed draft picks from the previous gm? Plus guaranteed contracts on top of it !!