Golden State Warriors: Gary Payton II comes Home.
Updated: Feb 13

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Less than 24 hours after a disappointing loss to the Portland Trail Blazers 122-125, with Payton II and Poole exchanging game jerseys at game's end, Bob Myers finds a path to bring the much missed Gary Payton II back to the franchise where he belongs.
In a flurry of moves, Myers pulls a rabbit out of a hat, and returns Oakland's favorite son to the bay.
The Houdini of general managers, Bob Myers, in his first move sent James Wiseman to the Detroit Pistons for Saddiq Bey and a trade exception. Then sent Bey to the Atlanta Hawks for Kevin Knox, and five second round picks. Package the five second round picks, Moses Moody, the 14th pick overall of the 2021 draft, and Ryan Rollins, the 44th pick of this year's draft to the Portland Trail Blazers for the much needed talent of Gary Payton II.
The move leaves the Warriors with three open roster spots, with room now to convert Lamb or Jerome or both, and still have a slot open for a buyout opportunity player. The Warriors will save roughly $7 million in luxury tax this year after Thursday's trades, and $30 million in 2023-2024.
The Dallas Mavericks added Kyrie Irving, the Phoenix Suns added Kevin Durant, the Los Angeles Lakers restocked their roster with D’Angelo Russell, Mo Bamba, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt, the Los Angeles Clippers adding Eric Gordon; the team from the bay's future to repeat this season looked bleak.

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With minutes left before the close of the trade deadline, Myers made the moves that may well have saved the Warriors' season. The price paid has yet to be calculated as we will see the athletically talented Moses Moody at least four times a season, and the promise of James Wiseman emerge in the Motor City.