What happened: Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reports mutual interest between Payton and Golden State. The 33-year-old remains a free agent while the Warriors complete their 2026-27 roster.
Why it matters: A return would retain Gary Payton II as a perimeter defender after Golden State missed on LeBron James and re-signed Draymond Green. Payton has spent parts of six straight seasons with the Warriors, interrupted by a 2022-23 stint with Portland.
By the numbers: Payton averaged 7.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.9 steals in 15.6 minutes across 73 games in 2025-26. He shot 58.3% from the field and 29.1% from three.
What to watch: Watch whether Golden State converts the mutual interest into a minimum contract before filling its final three roster spots.