<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><span><span>Oakland native Gary Payton, unsigned for 2007-08 after playing last season with the Miami Heat, will make a decision about his future within the next few days, his agent said last week. One option he might consider would be to try to play an 18th and final NBA season with his hometown Warriors.</p> Aaron Goodwin said his client is training to stay in shape but has not settled on which direction to take his career.</p> "He's deciding if he's going to take another crack at playing one more season, or maybe go to Seattle and work in some sort of management position, or go into TV color commentary," Goodwin said.</p> Payton, who turned 39 this summer, has been unavailable for comment.</p> Goodwin said there have been no talks yet with potential teams, including the Warriors.</p> "He definitely has thoughts of going back and giving it one more shot in Miami," Goodwin said. "If that didn't work, he'd like to play for a West Coast team, the Warriors being one of them. It'd be great to retire in Oakland."</p> The Warriors currently have no roster room, with the maximum 15 players signed to guaranteed contracts headed into training camp next month.</p> Payton, a nine-time NBA All-Star point guard and one of the league's greatest defensive players during his prime, grew up in Oakland and starred at Skyline High School.</div></p> Source: Contra Costa Times</p></span></span>
It's sad to see a player of his caliber hang on so far past his prime. It'd surely be great for him to retire a warrior. I've not heard that he's had any particular aspirations (to coach, tv commentator) after he hangs 'em up.
I don't like Payton. Never much liked his style with Seattle, then grew to hate him when he latched onto the Lakers... I still remember being at a game in Oakland when he was playing point for LA, and he tried to choke Speedy Claxton. The refs tossed them both out of the game, even though Claxton had been burning the Lakers the whole night, and Payton was stinking it up. I think the Warriors only lost by one or two that night... might've cost them the game.</p> Anyways! Forget Payton. He's too old for our style, he's something of a malcontent, and he'll just prevent Monta Ellis from getting more point exposure.</p>
Yeah, I didn't like Payton when he went after Speedy. Speedy was something of a fan favorite (well, I thought he was at least one of my favorites) and he was an untouchable. </p> Payton was probably a proud guy who got a little bit too upset he was getting showed up in his own hometown by a backup point guard (but he's a championship backup point guard and one of the quickest in the league with excellent lateral mobility and hops).</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Montaman)</div><div class='quotemain'> I don't like Payton. Never much liked his style with Seattle, then grew to hate him when he latched onto the Lakers... I still remember being at a game in Oakland when he was playing point for LA, and he tried to choke Speedy Claxton. The refs tossed them both out of the game, even though Claxton had been burning the Lakers the whole night, and Payton was stinking it up. I think the Warriors only lost by one or two that night... might've cost them the game.</p> Anyways! Forget Payton. He's too old for our style, he's something of a malcontent, and he'll just prevent Monta Ellis from getting more point exposure.</p></div> I recall that game...and that's when it became obvious Payton had little left. He has not bounced back--just faded more. If we are gonna bring in a guy who lived in the area or used to play here....Payton is in line behind 7 or 8 others.</p>
Sure, we can let him retire a Warrior. We will give him a *one-day* contract so he can do that. He just won't ever suit up and play a game for us, and the roster remains the same for the regular season.</p> </p>
