SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – The Portland Trail Blazers are signing Warriors free agent guard Gary Payton II to a three-year, $28 million deal, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
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Losing the defensive stalwart is a tough blow to the Warriors lineup, but with the team in the luxury tax, they drew a line with how much they were willing to pay him, and Portland exceeded it.
With his high-energy style of play and rim-rattling dunks, Payton became a fan favorite this season. Not to mention his deep Bay Area ties, due to his Hall of Fame father from Oakland.
After missing more than a month with a fractured left elbow, Payton made his momentous return to the Warriors in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
GP2 logged 25 impactful minutes and helped the Warriors bottle up the Boston Celtics in a 107-88 drubbing that tied up the series at 1-1.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr actually sent Payton to the scorer's table twice in the first quarter, as he entered at the 5:30 mark to a rousing ovation from the Chase Center crowd.
GP2 latched on as the 15th man on opening night and carved out a rotation role by November. Remarkable to think he was playing on a non-guaranteed contract until January. He seems unshakeable after a journeyman's career that includes a stop at Salt Lake City Community college, Oregon State, being undrafted then waived five times in the NBA and having to prove himself in the G League.
The Warriors also reportedly lost Juan Toscano-Anderson and Otto Porter Jr. during the first two days of free agency.
Kevon Looney, Andre Iguodala, Damion Lee and Nemanja Bjelica all remain unsigned.
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