A Chronicle article speculates Payton could go to the Blazers for a Portland offer made to Seattle last season: Dale Davis, Ruben Patterson and a first-rounder. Two questions for you: 1) Where do you see Gary going? 2) What team(s) in the West would you rather see Payton playing with, if he were to return to the West? Me personally, I could see Gary going to Portland, but it really does depend on the new Portland's GM, as the Chronicle article discusses. Minnesota perhaps? Or even the Lakers. I'm not sure where I'd want Payton to go, but it would be to a team which I didn't see falling out of the playoffs. Maybe Portland.
I am wondering why Seattle thought of doing that trade. They would be getting Patterson back and they have a pair of Euro players that are younger and more offensive than Davis. Guess thats why it didnt happen. As for Payton's destination, my gut feeling that he is going to stay with the Bucks. If he comes back to the West, I can see him in Port or hell if he is willing to play with young players, Golden State simply because he is from Oakland.
I wouldn't be surprised at all if he ended up in Portland. They have so many salaries there it wouldn't be hard at all to find someone who matches up with GP talentwise and paycheck wise. Something like Antonio Daniels and Derek Anderson along with a draft pick for Payton and change. Another western conference team I could see him going to is Golden State where he grew up. They've got plenty of talent there and need someone like GP. They could give up someone like Fortson and Dunleavy along with a draft pick.
Milwaukee would never sign-and-trade Payton unless they got back another star or major draft picks in return; they are too close to the luxury tax (if not over it) and Sen. Kohl isn't going to allow them to go over, not for Dale Davis and Ruben Patterson, that's for sure. Where could he end up? LA looks most likely....someone mentioned Golden State and I can see that, but given the choice on equal money between them and the Lakers, I don't think he'd not go to the Lakers.
