Free Agent Gary Payton II to the Blazers (1 Viewer)

[HoopsFanAZ]

Payton has figured out his game and Golden State used him according to his skills and abilities. Billups has a blueprint to follow. The guy flat out plays D and has shown he can hit the corner 3 and make shots at the hoop. The cost would have been better at the TMLE, but he wouldn’t likely be a Blazer. It’s a 2-year quick rebuild. The Blazers paid. The rebuild isn’t complete. Good luck to Cronin. He’ll need that and skill.

 

[oldmangrouch]

So he is gonna get more minutes with Dame, Ant, Sharpe, Hart, and Keon? I mean, ok. But we aren't gonna win anything so i'd rather those minutes go to Sharpe, Hart and Keon.

Stop being reasonable! Cronin something something genius!

He isn't Olshey, so I guess that is enough for some.

 

[Strenuus]

So he is gonna get more minutes with Dame, Ant, Sharpe, Hart, and Keon? I mean, ok. But we aren't gonna win anything so i'd rather those minutes go to Sharpe, Hart and Keon.

That wasn't my point. It was the notion that he's just gonna get 10 minutes a game.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I don't have a problem with GP2's annual salary. It's deserved for sure. You can argue maybe not 3 years guaranteed.

The problem I have is with this particular team using one of the few resources they had to pay him that contract and the limitations the hard cap brings because of it.

Would you people stop being reasonable!

 

[Strenuus]

Stop being reasonable! Cronin something something genius!

He isn't Olshey, so I guess that is enough for some.

Did I say something good about Cronin or did you assume? Did my post that you replied to the reply of mine from, have any praise for Cronin? Or did you assume?

Thought so. Good try though.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I think he played 10 mins a game because he had all stars in front of him? Like hall of famers?

Fair enough. Who will he get his minutes from here? Dame? The $100 mil Ant? Hart ( also a good defender and better on offense)?

That's not sarcasm BTW, that's a serious question.

 

[calvin natt]

Fair enough. Who will he get his minutes from here? Dame? The $100 mil Ant? Hart ( also a good defender and better on offense)?

That's not sarcasm BTW, that's a serious question.

The fact that he can step in for those four and other positions, I don’t see a problem with him getting more than 10 mins. Lillard hopefully won’t be playing 30+ mins a game.

 

[illmatic99]

 

[julius]

Here's Payton in the playoffs

Good highlights...but like he's going to get away with that stuff in a Blazers uniform.

 

[julius]

He'd be great.... if we didn't have 7 other guards.

on the team there are currently 3 guards ahead of him in the rotation, and of those 3, one might even be better suited as a SF than a SG.

Also have to remember, just because they have the MLE doesn't mean a player will sign with the team.

 

[PCmor7]

This move makes no sense to me unless other moves are coming.

We signed him at a position of strength and kept Eubanks as Nurk's back-up? That doesn't seem like a prudent move.

 

[Driew]

This move makes no sense to me unless other moves are coming.

We signed him at a position of strength and kept Eubanks as Nurk's back-up? That doesn't seem like a prudent move.

In terms of defense we were definitely lacking in that department on the guard side of things.

 

[Scalma]

This move makes no sense to me unless other moves are coming.

We signed him at a position of strength and kept Eubanks as Nurk's back-up? That doesn't seem like a prudent move.

if you believe Billups that the 2 and the 3 are the same then these are our players for those two positions

Hart
Ant
Little
Payton

Considering Ant will also be our primary backup PG, it doesn’t look like minutes will be an issue.

 

[PCmor7]

In terms of defense we were definitely lacking in that department on the guard side of things.

I don't think that alone justifies it. We have Hart, who is a plus-defender. We're going to be playing 6-8 Watford or 6-9 Eubanks 20 minutes per night; that's going to make it harder to be competitive than playing Dame or Ant a few extra minutes in the backcourt with a legit backup 5.

 

[PCmor7]

if you believe Billups that the 2 and the 3 are the same then these are our players for those two positions

Hart
Ant
Little
Payton

Considering Ant will also be our primary backup PG, it doesn’t look like minutes will be an issue.

I'm not worried about minutes there. I'm worried about getting destroyed on the boards when Nurk is out of the game.

 

[Blazer Freak]

I'm not worried about minutes there. I'm worried about getting destroyed on the boards when Nurk is out of the game.

Nas, Hart, and GP2 are all exceptional rebounders for the positions. When we play small with JG at the 5 I’m honestly not worried about it.

 

[hoopsjock]

if you believe Billups that the 2 and the 3 are the same then these are our players for those two positions

Hart
Ant
Little
Payton

Considering Ant will also be our primary backup PG, it doesn’t look like minutes will be an issue.

Chris Haynes said they're for sure playing Sharpe minutes.

 

[Scalma]

Chris Haynes said they're for sure playing Sharpe minutes.

Then they don’t need a wing.

 

[Nhawz]

We all need to relax a little bit. Cronin said from the jump that this is a retool, and a process that will take more than an off-season to complete. “General hospital” left a mess for Joe to navigate, so expecting a contender after a systematic tear down is silly and unfair.
We also have to be careful in comparing Terry Stotts coached lineups, with our current lineup. Terrys defensive philosophy was nil, and I’m curious what a different coach could have done with that WCF lineup from a few years ago. We caught a small glimpse of Chauncey’s vision and philosophy, early on this season, when we were ripping W’s with a G league lineup.
When we look at the current roster, we all can agree, this is not a contending group on paper. But with everyone healthy, a brand new defensive philosophy and defensive minded dogs, at the 1-3 position, there is alot to be excited about.

 

[Scalma]

 

[hoopsjock]

Says the same people who whined for the last 7 years about the heights of the players. Pretty ironic.

 

[blazerkor]

Wow I know I alreadty commented about this once but I can't believe that we paid GP2 twice as much as the Pacers paid Jalen Smith. I think Jalen Smith fills a lot more needs on this team and it wouldn't have hard capped us.

 

[Scalma]

Says the same people who whined for the last 7 years about the heights of the players. Pretty ironic.

When did Gundersen do that?

 

[wizenheimer]

Do you think we should pay that much for a guy who plays 10 minutes a game?

I think Portland is overpaying, and shouldn't have signed him for more than the tax-MLE, but he did average 18 minutes, not 10

 

[TBpup]

It is strange that Golden State could have had GP2 back, but let him go and replaced him with DiVincenzo.

 

[Driew]

It is strange that Golden State could have had GP2 back, but let him go and replaced him with DiVincenzo.

We signed gpII to a fully guaranteed three year. DiVincenzo is most likely a one year deal.

 

[OneSport3]

It is strange that Golden State could have had GP2 back, but let him go and replaced him with DiVincenzo.

Payton is getting paid way more than what DiVincenzo is getting. They couldn’t keep Payton. Golden State is already paying $170M in luxury tax. They need to focus on next season when Wiggins and Poole are up for new contracts.

 

[Scalma]

It is strange that Golden State could have had GP2 back, but let him go and replaced him with DiVincenzo.

not really. It would’ve cost golden state nearly 70M to keep GP and made their upcoming extensions with Poole, etc even more expensive.

 

[TBpup]

Golden State never cared about the Lux Tax.....until GP2 and OPJ? Guess the owner has his limits.

 

[OneSport3]

Golden State never cared about the Lux Tax.....until GP2 and OPJ? Guess the owner has his limits.

No, it’s not about GP2 and OPJ. It’s looking ahead to Wiggins and Poole next season.