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NBA News: Gary Payton II, Paul George updates, Willis Reed passes away

By Ian Levy

Dec 30, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Gary Payton II poses with his championship ring before the start of the game against the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Gary Payton II poses with his championship ring before the start of the game against the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 5, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II (0) stands on the court during the first quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II (0) stands on the court during the first quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /

NBA news: Warriors expect Gary Payton II for postseason

The Warriors paid a hefty price to bring back Gary Payton II at the trade deadline, sending out former No. 2 pick James Wiseman. However, they haven’t even gotten a chance to see him back in a Warriors uniform at all since the trade.

Payton II was a key piece of last season’s championship team, with his defense and savvy off-ball cutting and finishing. He signed a three-year deal with the Trail Blazers in the offseason but appeared in just 15 games because of a nagging adductor injury, the same injury that has kept him out of the lineup since the Warriors made the trade to bring him back.

According to SI’s Fan Nation, “the Warriors are optimistic that Payton will be able to return to the floor before the conclusion of the regular season.”

The Warriors have just nine games left on their schedule. They currently hold the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference, just a game behind the Los Angeles Clippers and just a half-game in front of the Thunder and Timberwolves. Golden State could sorely use the extra depth — they’re also dealing with the absence of Andrew Wiggins and are just 4-6 over their last 10 games.

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