Payton likes team’s ‘good vibe’ in preseason
Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II was in Portland at the start of last season, but the entire league was familiar with the team’s internal dysfunction created by Draymond Green’s punch of Jordan Poole — Payton included.
Golden State’s vibes were off all season long. The team’s lack of connectivity played a significant role in its inability to repeat as NBA champion. But Poole is now in Washington, Green got a fouryear, $100 million extension, and the Warriors brought in guard Chris Paul and power forward/ center Dario Saric, among others, to round out the roster.
The adjustments that general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. made this offseason appear to have paid off in terms of team chemistry on and off the court. Payton, back in training camp with Warriors for the first time since the 2021-22 championship season, certainly has noticed the difference.
“As a unit, one band, one sound, basically,” Payton said. “We move together. We’re on the same page. We’re communicating on and off the court. I think it’s just helping us more on the court when we do things off the court, activities, team events, team dinners, stuff like that. So, I love it. It feels like a couple of years ago.”
Payton, 30, appeared in just seven regular-season games for the Warriors last season because of a core-muscle injury he sustained before being dealt by Portland at the Feb. 9 trade deadline. However, he appeared in all 12 of Golden State’s playoff games and averaged 6.8 points and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 66.7% from the field and often guarding the opposing team’s best player.
Part of the connectivity the Warriors have enjoyed during training camp has to do with key contributors such as Payton being available from the start. The team was disconnected on defense throughout most of the past regular season, and bringing a healthy Payton back into the fold will go a long way in correcting that issue. And with Paul now on the roster, the guard likely can expect an uptick in transition opportunities as well.
“When I came back (last season), it was pretty much the playoffs,” Payton said. “We were all trying to get locked in. Everyone was getting locked in. But for right now, it’s the same mentality. We have to lock in early. … So we have a good vibe right now, and everyone is connected. We’ve been using connectivity all preseason and all offseason, so we’re pretty well connected right now.”
Transaction: The Warriors waived undrafted Saint Louis point guard Yuri Collins on Wednesday after signing him Monday. Collins is expected to start the season with Golden State’s G League affiliate in Santa Cruz. With Collins being waived, the team’s training-camp roster stands at 19 players.