http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/7642782 Item: Not a peep has come out of Gary Payton just weeks after he went off to a reporter upon stunningly being traded to the Boston Celtics by the Lakers. Sources say he talked to the reporter while in a club and was caught off guard when it turned out to be on the record that he said ain't no way I'm going. What it really means: Everything is quiet because Payton knows he can't force a deal, and at 36, he's not about to turn up his nose at $5.4 million. Would he like to stay on the West Coast? Of course. But he also knows he has a chance with Boston to make the playoffs in the weak East and maybe prove he's worth a decent chunk of change for a couple more years in the NBA.
I think GP should quit, join a retirement community and sign up for the seniors league there. Who knows he might be able to d-up... at least against the old guys who need a walker while on the court.
As a Celtics fan, I don't really care either. Unless he's an idiot, he's going to show - it's his only viable career move at this point. If he retires and comes back the following season, he'll be 37 years old and his last basketball moment will have been the '04 playoffs in which he played horribly. So in all likelihood he doesn't get the salary he wants. If he fails to report, he gets suspended without pay, and will have trouble securing playing time and the extension he wants with whatever team he lands on. The Celtics are going to cash him in by February no matter what happens.
I remember one playoff game , I think it was against the Suns, Payton dove to the floor to steal a ball while the player was dribbling it. I've always loved Payton for that and have tried to do the same in pickup games since ( concrete isnt as easy on the knees as wood is apparently). Thanks for the scabs , Gary !
One certain thing is he never ever shut up his mouth I have a video shown Payton keep whining& gabbing on the court. My cousin emailed me that video on my bday, almost made me laugh the whole night...
