\nGary Payton II has drawn a strong offer from the Trail Blazers among other suitors, sources said. I’m told Portland has the richest contract, roughly $8M, out to the versatile defender, but still mutual interest in Payton’s return to Golden State. Bruce Brown another POR target.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
While the report suggests that the 6’3 Payton still has interest in returning to the championship-winning Golden State Warriors, the Blazers offer appears to be the strongest among their competitors. <\/p>\n
The offer would take up the majority of the Blazers’ non-taxpayer mid-level exception. <\/p>\n
The Warriors currently own the 29-year-old’s \u201cNon-Bird\u201d Rights, meaning they can exceed the salary cap to re-sign him. He earned $1.9 million last year.<\/p>\n
The second-generation NBA champion enjoyed a breakout season with the Warriors after bouncing around the NBA and G-League since going undrafted in 2016. He averaged 7.1 points with 35% three-point shooting to go with 3.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game, while playing lockdown defense. <\/p>\n
Payton II also hit 15 points and recorded 3 steals against the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, a series the Warriors won. <\/p>\n
Fischer also mentioned Brooklyn Nets wing Bruce Brown, Jr. as a potential Portland target. The 6’4, 25-year-old wing played in 72 games for the Nets last season, starting 45. He scored 9.0 points in 24.6 minutes per game, shooting 50.6% from the floor, 40.4% from the three-point arc. Brown made $4.7 million last season and is an unrestricted free agent this summer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n