What happened: The veteran-minimum agreement is worth $3.9 million. Gary Payton II returns for his seventh season with Golden State.
Why it matters: The move keeps a perimeter defender in the rotation as Golden State builds on a 37-win season. Payton, 33, has spent parts of six consecutive seasons with the franchise.
By the numbers: Payton averaged 7.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.9 steals across 73 games in 2025-26. He shot 58.3% from the field in 15.6 minutes per game.
What to watch: Golden State must now define Payton's role in its 2026-27 rotation while completing the rest of its offseason roster work.