Photo. Estevan OriolThere have been quiet rumblings about Gary Payton possibly re-surfacing this season, and almost every time his name has been brought up, it’s been in reference to the Boston Celtics (we’re pretty sure everyone in the Celtics organization has had enough of watching Tony Allen trying to dribble).
But here’s something that came up yesterday over on Golden State of Mind: Several sources are pretty sure that GP is headed back to the Bay Area, and soon.
Seeing GP run with Baron and Captain Jack would be cool and all (and he’d definitely add even more swagger to the squad), but can he still play? The last time we saw him, he wasn’t bringing much to the table.
What do you think? Would GP help the W’s? Or at this point in his career, would he be a non-factor?
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:14 am
fallinup says:
As a backup PG, he could garner a few assists. And it’s okay that GP is a step slow, because GS doesn’t play defense anyway. But all in all, I see Gary fitting in more with Boston. I guess we’ll see.
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:17 am
fireman says:
waste of time ..especially for da Warriors that like to run. What is he gonna do make half court pass all day cause u know he wont keep. If Nelson cant find consistent PT for Beidrins bc they always running ,how is GP gonna play? Besides they need a big man more than anything. I dont see why their wasting their time worrying about guards. Its like they play more for the crowd or for fun than for winning. (its gd to play for the crowd and have some fun but u get paid to WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS not just make upsets here and there)
They need to send B-Diddy to NY. He’ll turn the knick around
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:40 am
Myrie says:
Waste. The Glove was finished when he landed in Miami. Good for him that he got a chip. But he’ll be a non factor.
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Kobeef says:
He is certainly not going back to Miami. Apparently Pat Riley had this to say today (after the heat dropped to 8-32) about the Heat’s plans for this season:
“there has been a shift in the front-office approach to this season.”
Roughly translated, that means “tank and hope we get Mike Beasley in the draft”
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Celts Fan says:
Seems like Boston’s trying to give Gabe Pruitt (he has Delonte West’s game - can back up both guard spots and hit a J - and should be about that type of player in a year or so) a chance to get some PT and show he deserves the backup PG spot before they go out and sign someone else…
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Patrick Cassidy says:
or maybe they’re showcasing Pruitt so that teams can see that he can play a little and would be willing to take him as part of a package…
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Brown says:
I don’t see the point of bringing GP in. They’d be much better off trading Mikael Pietrus, Patrick O’Bryant, Brandan Wright and some future draft picks to find a big man who can play PF. Either that or give Wright and O’Bryant some playing time. Those guys were top-10 lottery picks and haven’t seen the light of day in Nellie’s small-ball system. I love how Nellie has rejuvenated the franchise, but he’s gotta play the young guys at the 4 and 5 spots. They consistently get killed on the boards, and don’t play any defense. A change in coaches (or coaching philosophies) is the only way that’s gonna happen, not by signing a PG well past his prime who should have called it a career two seasons ago.
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
GEE ...First the Dolphins now the Heat?!?! says:
Rumors, rumors, rumors! I am so ready for something to just go down. GP wouldn’t really be a great fit for the Warriors unless it came time when they were adjusting to say a team that was dictating the pace to where it was half court sets instead of steady transition.
Otherwise he would be a better fit for Boston, but for real…Boston needs to simply go after Sam-I-Am and call it a day.
Oh yea if GP went to the Warriors I think that would be Swagger overload for real and overload with Boston too.
You think N.Y. seen that article about how K.G. was bullying Portland and went in determined to not let Boston intimidate them. Just a thought.
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:56 pm
MSkittle says:
He’s finished
January 22nd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Celts Fan says:
possibly Patrick, but to hear them say it, Pruitt is one of the youngsters that’s “untouchable” in normal trades, at least for now. he’s been running ish in the D-League when he’s been down there too, so I can understand the optimism, though anything he contributes this year is a bonus…
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:17 pm
ML says:
If i was GS i wouldn’t bring his Old ass back. He’s to much of a Distraction he run’s his mouth to much. He would get along with B-Diddy & S-Jack for a little while. Then same old GP Flips his gums. He would totally destroy the Chemistry of that team.
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:33 am
doc says:
I wouldnt put GP on the Utah Flash right now.