The Portland Trail Blazers made a big free agency splash late last summer. And when I say splash, I’m of course referring to the modest three year, $26 million deal offered and accepted by the then recently-anointed champion Gary Payton II.
While it was the first time Payton II had signed an NBA contract worth more than the minimum salary, it was well and truly deserved. The relatively diminutive, but crazy long and athletic, defender spent the 2021-22 season proving his place in the league with a very good Golden State Warriors team.
He did this by leaning on his ability as a defensive specialist while fundamentally playing to his limited strengths on the offensive side of the ball.