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The Portland Trail Blazers are set to receive a solid boost as Gary Payton II is expected to make his season debut in the Blazers' next game against the Detroit Pistons. The Trail Blazers acquired Payton this summer on a three-year $26 million deal in free agency.
Payton was coming off a championship with the Golden State Warriors. However, after undergoing abdominal surgery in the offseason, his season debut got delayed. GPII was cleared to play on his return to the Bay Area last game but remained sidelined as he had yet to overcome the mental hurdles of taking to the court.
The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that Gary Payton II is expected to play for the Trail Blazers at home against the Pistons on Monday (January 2). Here's what he said about the situation on Fan Duel TV:
"They (Portland) thought he was gonna be back a couple of weeks ago. Took him a little bit more time to get back. He was coming off a core muscle surgery in the summertime, so he's now gonna be back in the lineup tonight."
The Portland Trail Blazers have a winning record but have found it difficult to sustain achieving positive results. They dropped to 18-17 this year after falling 118-112 to the Steph Curry-less Golden State Warriors in their last game, their fifth defeat in seven games.
Gary Payton II's versatility crucial for the Portland Trail Blazers
Gary Payton II was among the breakout performers in the NBA last season. After bouncing around the league and playing in the G-League for many years, he found a new home with the Golden State Warriors. GPII excelled off the bench due to his defensive prowess and ability to guard multiple positions.
His physicality and intensity inspired the rest of the role players, proving crucial in the Warriors' run to their fourth championship win in eight years. Payton earned himself a big payday and secured the bag with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Payton will likely have an even bigger role with his new team. The Trail Blazers have again struggled defensively, something they aim to improve on this year. They have a 114.0 rating on defense, which ranks 22nd in the league.
Gary Payton II's presence could make a difference in that regard. He held his opponents down to 43.2% field goal shooting while guarding the best perimeter player. He was also impactful in his limited role offensively, playing in various roles as a floor spacer, dunker, screener and rim slasher.
Payton averaged 7.1 points per game in 17.1 minutes per contest, shooting 61.6% from the field. He remains a crucial presence for the Warriors in the playoffs.
Guess the Lakers players!
