Just weeks after winning his first championship ring with the Golden State Warriors, Gary Payton II is making his way up north to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Payton was signed away to the Blazers in a three-year, $28 million contract on Thursday evening, just one of the many deals coming out of NBA free agency.
It was a shocking move because many people figured the Warriors would sign Payton as quickly as possible – but that wasn’t the case.
GARY PAYTON II 👏
2016: Undrafted
2016: Signs w/ Rockets
2016: Waived after 6 preseason gms
2017: Bucks
2018: Lakers
2019: Wizards
2019: G-League Champion/DPOY
2021: Warriors (signed/waived/re-signed)
2022: NBA Community Assist Award
2022: NBA Champ
2022: Blazers (3-year, $28M) pic.twitter.com/ccqTb7xreo— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) July 1, 2022
Payton’s latest move is just one of many he’s experienced during his time in the league.
When you look at the wild road map he’s taken through the NBA, you see a player who has pretty much touched every corner of the country.
He went unsigned in 2016, then got a deal with the Houston Rockets before being waived after six preseason games.
Following that, Payton bounced around from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Los Angeles Lakers to the Washington Wizards and then the G League, where he was named Defensive Player of the Year and earned a championship.
He found his biggest success with the Warriors, where he just recently won the Finals.
And now he’s off to Rose City, where uncertainty awaits.
Payton In Portland
Yes, Payton has a lot of experience on many different teams – his new team will need all of that experience.
That’s because the Blazers are in a tough spot.
They didn’t even come close to the playoffs last season and they are currently trying to rebuild themselves into a competitive squad in order to keep superstar guard Damian Lillard.
Payton will certainly get more time on the court than he did in San Francisco.
This next chapter in his career might be a very productive one.
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