Three key role players in the Warriors’ most recent championship run are about to hit free agency on Thursday. Otto Porter Jr., Kevon Looney and Gary Payton II will all get a chance to test the open market, and see if they can get a better deal than whatever Joe Lacob is willing to fork out.
Bob Meyers said a week ago that he’d like to bring back all three, but much of that will determine what each player values, and how much the rest of the league values them.
NBA reporter Marc J. Spears joined KNBR on Tuesday, and discussed the likelihood of the three players returning in Golden State. In summary, Spears believes Porter Jr. is gone, but that the Warriors will have a good chance to bring back Looney and Payton, despite a strong suitor for each player, respectively.
“Porter I think is gone,” Spears said. “Looney, he should test the market and see what he should get paid, cause he hasn’t hit that payday, and I’m not saying he’s a max guy but if Sacramento is willing to give him some real big money, more than the Warriors, take the money now. He’s had a lot of injuries, he’s late in his career, I know Warriors fans don’t want to hear that, but from a business standpoint I think there could be some potential to make some more money there. But he loves being with the Warriors, he loves being in the Bay, I think he ends up staying.”
In addition, Spears believes the Dallas Mavericks, who Golden State beat easily in the West Finals, have their eyes on Payton.
“In terms of Dallas with Payton II, keep an eye on that cause I expect their point guard [Jalen] Brunson to go in free agency to New York but I still think even so [Spencer] Dinwiddie would start, that’s why they got him as insurance. Remember that Jason Kidd and Gary Payton Sr. go back a long, long time. They are very close friends. Kidd has known Payton II since he was born, so that’s family. So if somebody is going to steal him away it’s family.
“So I’m curious are the Warriors willing to pay $10 million for him? What’s going to be the number, but certainly keep an eye on Dallas for Payton as a really, really strong suitor.”
Listen to the full interview below. You can listen to every KNBR interview on our podcast page at knbr.com/podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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