Gary Payton II signed with the Milwaukee Bucks for the final six games of the regular season, but based on his play in those games will he become a regular contributor moving forward?
How did Gary Payton II end up on the Milwaukee Bucks so late in the season? It’s not uncommon for veteran players to be waived late in the year, as teams look to save money or bring in an injection of some fresh energy for the playoffs.
The Bucks believed they had found a steal shortly after the trade deadline when they picked up forward Terrence Jones — at least according to Jason Terry.
Released by the Pelicans after the DeMarcus Cousins trade, the Bucks hoped to have found a rare waiver wire talent, and the move made even more sense with Jabari Parker and Michael Beasley both injured at the time.
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However, the need for a third guard soon presented itself as more pressing than extra forward depth when Malcolm Brogdon missed multiple games towards the end of the season. After a month long stint with the Bucks, Jones only earned a total of six minutes of playing time not finding favor with coach Jason Kidd and was waived to clear a spot for Payton II.
An undrafted rookie from Oregon State — profiled here on Behind The Buck Pass prior to the draft — Payton II is considered an athletic, defensive point guard. For Milwaukee, he was brought in as a backup point guard to take the place of an injured Brogdon and save Matthew Dellavedova from heavy minutes late in the season.
In the limited time Payton II was on the court, let’s see what he brought to the Milwaukee Bucks this year and what we should take from that considering he’s likely to remain around the organization next year.