(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II is coming off another strong season off the team’s bench, though he once again endured lengthy absences due to injuries, and is faced with a tough choice to make this offseason about his future.
With the option to head into free agency and seek another long-term contract, Payton has reportedly made a decision about his immediate future.
ESPN’s Kendra Andrews reported that Payton has chosen to opt into his $9.1 million player option for the 2024-25 season instead of entering free agency.
Gary Payton II has elected to opt into his $9.1M player option for the 2024-25 season, league sources confirm to @ClutchPoints. News was first reported by @kendra__andrews.
This will make retaining both Chris Paul and Klay Thompson extremely hard for the Warriors financially. pic.twitter.com/aT0YPp9lWj
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) June 19, 2024
Payton played just 44 games this season and shot 56.3 percent from the floor after playing just 22 games last year, so it makes sense to take the guaranteed money and hope he can have a healthy season and enter free agency next offseason on a higher note.
The financial ramifications for the Warriors are severe, as Payton’s contract will make it much more difficult for the team to retain future Hall-of-Famers Klay Thompson and Chris Paul.
The Warriors had a rough season and appear to be clinging to the last chapters of their dynasty, and Payton is a valuable piece of the puzzle, but if his presence costs the team Klay Thompson it will make the offseason incredibly difficult to navigate for the front office.
Paul was injured for much of the season and never looked completely comfortable in his role, but Thompson has been this team’s Robin for over a decade.
At 31 years old, we’ll see if Payton has a big contract year in him.
The post Gary Payton II Has Reportedly Made A Decision About His Future appeared first on The Cold Wire.