Along with Rick Fox and a first rounder for Chris Mihm, Chucky Atkins, Marcus Banks and a second rounder. I guess after seeing him in a Lakers uniform, I can watch him in a Celtics uniform, but this is his third team in just about a season and a half since leaving the Sonics. I thought I'd start up a thread just to get people's thoughts on his post-Seattle career. Personally I think his demise is quite sad as I picture him only a couple of years ago tearing up opposition teams in Sonic green and gold, now he still hasn't got his ring and he won't get any closer in Boston, and his distinguished career seems to be peetering out like so many superstars gone by.
Yeah here's to hoping he'll retire to end his misery There was one ESPN writer who wondered if it was possible to play yourself out of the hall of fame...
Being in Boston is a lot better than him being in Los Angeles. If he has anything left in the tank he will be given the opportunity to show it. I had hoped for Payton to remain a Sonic his entire career. I thought that he was like Stockton, in that he cared more about competing for the ring than he was worried about actually obtaining one. Obviously I was wrong but I hope that his story stands as the example of how there are no short cuts to a championship. Payton is a fierce competitor who I believe will set out to prove all of his doubters wrong. He's playing for a coach who is known for letting his players play. Somehow Payton has to rediscover his confidence and get back to being a true leader on the court.
Iron Shiek.....Gary didnt care more about playing for the ring....it wasnt his idea to leave the sonics....the sonics are the one that wanted him out...gary is a proud worrior who still has a good 2 years in him...if you wanna blame anyone blame wally....trading for allen.....and guess where we are at guys?? in the same exact position we were when we traded gary....actually our record was a little bad last year wasnt it? lol...the sonics management is sad...and now we're gonna trade allen too...or worst he'll just leave us after his contract is over...and we get nothing......
Nah the Payton-for-Allen trade was a no brainer. Allen is younger and a better overall player. Payton had to go at some point, I for one am glad we got something good in return. Our record suffered due to injuries (Collison, Barry, Allen) and some shakeups in the roster since Flip emerged as a bona fide player. And yeah, we get Flip and Ray for GP and Mase.. Not a bad deal at all. If you think we'd have a better record without doing the Allen trade you're sorely mistaken..
To me this trade sucks for the lakers. Not only do they lose a good point guard but some veteran leadership. Most of the guys the lakers brought in are young guys at the peek of there careers. Payton could of helped a lot of those guys. Also who will run the plays for the lakers????? Atkins????? He is a good player and all but i dont think he is starter material.
Krazykev, Gary Payton himself had just as much to do with his leaving Seattle as management did. He just used the 'franchise legend' angle beautifully to make it seem like Schultz and co. were totally to blame, which in the end wasn't the case by a longshot.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">Being in Boston is a lot better than him being in Los Angeles. If he has anything left in the tank he will be given the opportunity to show it. I had hoped for Payton to remain a Sonic his entire career. I thought that he was like Stockton, in that he cared more about competing for the ring than he was worried about actually obtaining one. Obviously I was wrong but I hope that his story stands as the example of how there are no short cuts to a championship. Payton is a fierce competitor who I believe will set out to prove all of his doubters wrong. He's playing for a coach who is known for letting his players play. Somehow Payton has to rediscover his confidence and get back to being a true leader on the court.</div> I would have agreed with you 100% on that statement before last year's playoffs. However in the last few rounds of last year's playoffs I really lost a lot of respect for GP. He seemed to be too busy saying "don't blame me, its the whole team" and didn't seem to work hard to prove everyone wrong. I wouldn't blame him for playing bad in the finals either, if he atleast gave effort. The whole Laker team did lousy but he didn't even seem to care, and wasn't doing anything about it like a true hall of fame competetor should. I don't like the deal the Lakers got with Boston because I wanted to see Gary redeem himself, but at the same time I was kind of happy to see him being here coming to an end. I still do respect Gary as a great player, just not a "fierce competetor" anymore..
