The Portland Trail Blazers were able to pry championship wing Gary Payton II away from the Golden State Warriors this summer, in a pretty big coup for general manager Joe Cronin.
The Blazers offered the 29-year-old defensive whiz a large part of the team’s midlevel exception, eventually agreeing to a three-year, $26 million deal with a player option on the third, on July 1.
Payton II was interviewed on the Truth and Basketball podcast with George Karl this week with the decorated coach asking the new Blazer why it was time to return to Oregon.