After a long offseason that started with some uncertainty, Gary Payton II is set to return to the Golden State Warriors on a new deal in free agency once Jonathan Kuminga's situation is resolved.
There was a thought that the Warriors could look elsewhere at other options to bolster this roster, but Payton's familiarity in Steve Kerr's system and his locker room presence is clearly valued by the franchise, particularly after the departure of fellow veteran Kevon Looney to the New Orleans Pelicans.
With NBA insider Marc Stein reaffirming the expectation that Payton will be back with Golden State, attention can now turn to his role and whether he should be a consistent nightly rotation piece for Steve Kerr.