Warriors May Have Made Vital Error In Committing To Signing Gary Payton II

The Golden State Warriors are finally starting to build out their roster. After an entire offseason of inaction due to the stalled Jonathan Kuminga contract negotiations, it seems like the Warriors are finally making some free agent signings. 

Shams Charania of ESPN reported, “Free agents Gary Payton II and De'Anthony Melton have committed to signing deals to return to the Golden State Warriors, sources tell ESPN. Payton, Melton, and Al Horford are now locked in for the Warriors' 2025-26 roster.”

While it may seem like these signings are a huge win for the Warriors, it isn’t as ideal as many may think. 

That’s because Gary Payton II is no longer an ideal roster fit for the Warriors. Warriors fans would have a hard time admitting this, but the GP2 that played a key role in the Warriors’ 2022 NBA Championship is no longer the same player. 

That GP2 could reliably lock up the opposing team’s best player on defense. This opened up a world of possibilities for the Warriors defensively and was instrumental in maximizing their different lineup options. 

That GP2 no longer exists. Over the last few seasons, he has lost a step (or two) defensively, and he still is pretty much a non-factor on offense. The Warriors coaching staff still loves to play him because of his knowledge of their system and hustle, but that just isn’t enough anymore.

Additionally, the Warriors are simply too small. GP2 is sized like a shooting guard, but Steve Kerr and the Warriors’ coaching staff love playing him at the four or even five. The Warriors already have Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, De’Anthony Melton, and Buddy Hield as undersized for their position. They can’t afford to play another small player who doesn’t bring any threat on the offensive end. 

So while it feels good to bring back a fan favorite, it probably should have been time for the Warriors and Gary Payton II to cut ties.