<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">When the Boston Celtics guard played for the Sonics, he did the same thing in Seattle and, before facing his former team at 3 p.m. today at FleetCenter, a part of him longed for the good old days. "I wish I could have stayed in Seattle and I wish I can go back and finish my career there," Payton said. "It's never going to be that I don't like Seattle. I love Seattle. And it might happen. It could happen and it couldn't. But I think it could. It could. That's just something that's going to have to be seen in the future." When asked again if he's serious about a return to the city where he spent the first 13 years of his NBA career, the 36-year-old Payton reaffirmed his statement. "Yeah, because I would want the fans to come back and see me retire where I started and all of that," he said. "I would like to make my last hurrah there. And it would be a good situation for me to do that. "Or even if I went to Golden State and finished in my hometown. But my first choice would be Seattle." But when asked if he'd be willing to back up starting point guard Luke Ridnour, Payton said: "Nah, I can't see that happening."</div> <font size="1">Full Story courtesy of Percy Allen.</font> Work that one out... I think I speak for most Sonic fans when I say I'd love to see GP in a Sonics uniform someday, but realistically, it wouldn't make any sense. The team is going forward and Ridnour is potentially our long term starter, but one can daydream I guess.
I would love to have GP back but like you said SS, it wouldn't make much sense unless he was willing to take a backup role. If he really wants to come back as much as he says he does then he might do it. I'll pray for it tonight.
If Payton were to come back this season, I wouldn't see any reason to bench him in favor of Ridnour. Payton's playing VERY well for the Celtics and Luke could certainly learn a thing or two from him.. However, a trade seems unlikely since it begs the question of what we'd be willing to give for a player who will only be good for another 2-3 seasons at best..
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">I think he's a liar if he says he'll play for Howard Shultz.</div> His comments in the article were interesting, probably the closest thing you'll ever see to GP admitting he may have been slightly in the wrong sometimes. Still, I agree with what you're saying.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">I think he's a liar if he says he'll play for Howard Shultz.</div> Exactly. But maybe he's looking at the Sonics' success as of late...and, I don't know...I don't want to say that you guys are "obvious" contenders for a title (because there are still alot of games to be played), but maybe he believes he's the key ingredient...the missing ingredient...that the Sonics need. However, I disagree. I think if the Sonics pull Luke out of the lineup for GP, it could be a bad situation for a kid who's actually doing pretty well now.
Payton needs to worry about who he's playing for now as opposed to where he wants to finish his career. I can't believe how much he has changed not only as a player but also a man in the year since he played for Milwaukee.
I don't think he's changed, he always said he wants to retire in seattle...he got traded, it wasn't his choice...payton is a loyal guy, he stuck with this team through many hard years, through rebuilding processes and all that...i don't think he's changed at all...
^ he got traded because he said he wouldn't come back at the end of the season. The trade also brought Ray Allen to the Sonics, so it was definitely a good move by them. Payton just runs his mouth too often, and he probably said something he didn't mean when he told the reporters he wasn't returning to Seattle.
Even if GP doesn't return to the Sonics, it will be enough compensation for me when he is inducted to the Hall of Fame as a Sonic and his jersey is retired at KeyArena (assuming Howard Schultz has common sense).
Benching Ridnour for him is not an option, as far as I'm concerned, not at this point anyway. Nate has made some really good progress with him at the moment, and the last thing you'd want to do is undo any of the good work.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">Benching Ridnour for him is not an option, as far as I'm concerned, not at this point anyway. Nate has made some really good progress with him at the moment, and the last thing you'd want to do is undo any of the good work.</div> Just like the Fortson ordeal, sure Fortson is a beast and would have seemed to have earned a starting job with his play but why mess with a formula that has produced a 9-2 record so far? Benching Ridnour for Payton would be that same type of thing.
I think Gary's Sonics career is done. BTW, I was just wondering do you think his jersey will be retired?
Funny you should mention that, I was just going to say that reading about Stock having his jersey retired before the loss(!) against New Orleans made me think of GP and if we'll one day be able to watch his number 20 lifted into the rafters. However, I don't see any way it won't be unless there is a bust-up of mammoth propertions, because quite simply, he is this franchise's greatest ever player.
Bump. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Destined Hall of Famer Gary Payton of the Boston Celtics dearly wants to be traded to his fifth team in two years, preferably to a contender on the West coast. But his best shot at a deal is Seattle, which traded him to start with, unless Minnesota can entice Danny Ainge to take Sam Cassell in exchange.</div> <font size="1">From HoopsHype rumours, courtesy of the Chicago Sun-Times.</font> Interesting. I still can't see it though, as even if Flip went in the other direction, GP would still sit outside the three guard rotation. Surely we wouldn't trade AD either, considering his importance to our rotation and the season he's having.
This is such a tough subject, I want GP to play for the Sonics again simply because of his legend status but I just don't see how it would work positively from a basketball standpoint. The only thing basketball wise The Glove would bring is veteran leadership when it comes crunch time. As Natalie Imbruglia would say, i'm torn.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">She's hot. I'm surprised an American knows about a overseas artist though.</div> Ugh, that video was played about every ten minutes on MTV one summer a long time ago. She was a one hit wonder in the US.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">Ugh, that video was played about every ten minutes on MTV one summer a long time ago. She was a one hit wonder in the US.</div> Didn't do much better here either
