The Warriors are expected to lose the elite defender.
With the New York Knicks bringing in a new head coach in the form of Mike Brown, the front office will have to make some interesting decisions during the remainder of the offseason.
The Knicks still have an open roster spot, and there's reason to believe they could find someone who has ties to the long-time head coach. When searching for potential options who fit that mold, SB Nation recently named Gary Payton II as an option.
“Alex Len and Trey Lyles are both forwards on the market who played in Sacramento under Mike Brown, while Gary Payton II is a gritty defensive guard that played under Brown while he was Steve Kerr’s associate head coach from 2020-22...
“Despite how unrealistic it sounds, I think GPII would be a slam dunk if they could get him on the minimum. They need defense and they could also use a guy with this much athleticism,” SB Nation wrote.
Payton is a great defender and would bring plenty of athleticism to the Knicks.
The Knicks aren't necessarily lacking athleticism, but they could use more.
Throughout his career, the son of a former NBA legend is more known for his defensive abilities.
MORE: How much money will Mike Brown make for the Knicks? Explaining salary for New York's new head coach
Payton likely won't give the Knicks much on the offensive side of the basketball, considering he's only averaged 5.5 points throughout his 270-game NBA career.
However, he's been able to stick around the league for a reason, as he picks up full court and does little things on the defensive side of the basketball.
The Knicks would love to have that, meaning there's reason to believe it could work out if he's willing to play in New York and leave the Golden State Warriors.
Category: Basketball
