While Gary Payton II would prefer to remain with the Golden State Warriors, it appears the two sides could be headed for a divorce in free agency.
The odds of Payton leaving the Dubs in free agency are "rising rapidly," according to The Athletic's Anthony Slater and Sam Amick, and there's internal belief that the franchise is likely to lose him this summer.
"Facing a record tax bill multiplying each additional dollar spent by nearly seven, the Warriors entered free agency intent on avoiding any overpay that the market doesn’t demand. They want to bring both [Kevon] Looney and Payton back.