Portland Trail Blazers free agency point guard target: Gary Payton II
This is kind of a cheat answer since Gary Payton II doesn’t play anything like a traditional point, but Basketball-Reference estimates that he’s spent 35 percent of his career minutes filling that slot, including 36 percent of his floor time with the Golden State Warriors this season.
Between Lillard and Simons, the Portland Trail Blazers already have a ton of scoring and outside shooting in their backcourt. What they really need from another guard is someone who can create for others, attack the rim, and shutdown opposing ballhandlers.
While GPII hasn’t established himself as a table-setter in the NBA, he’s an excellent option for the latter two needs.
Nicknamed The Mitten, as an homage to his father, Gary Payton a.k.a. The Glove, Payton can lockdown four positions in the NBA. At 6’3 with a 6’8 wingspan, stellar athleticism, and a sturdy lower body and core, he can use his size and agility to cover nearly any perimeter player in the league.
While he hasn’t been a reliable deep shooter thus far in his career, he’s a stellar finisher at the rim, shooting 66 percent on twos for his career and 77 percent this season.
He’s a perfect bench piece to come off of the bench when either Dame or Ant needs a breather or if an opposing guard or wing is getting hot. He’s proven to be an excellent cutter and lob threat from the guard position. He’s come to find his niche in the NBA and excels within it.
Although he won’t offer much within the confines of a traditional floor general, GPII could be the perfect fourth guard to have with Dame, Ant, and Josh Hart. He’d give the Portland Trail Blazers a true rim threat and lockdown perimeter defender and should be more than affordable.