Gary Payton to Remain a Laker

wilheim · Jun 22, 2004

Gary Payton will remain with the Los Angeles Lakers next season, exercising a $5.4 million option despite struggling throughout his first year with the team.
Payton had a difficult time with the Lakers' triangle offense, but started all 104 games the team played 82 in the regular season and 22 in the playoffs.

He averaged 14.6 points his lowest since the 1992-93 season and a career-low 4.2 assists in the regular season and 7.8 points and 5.3 assists in the playoffs. He averaged 18.3 points over his first 13 seasons.

wil.

packer2012 · Jun 22, 2004

All good points wil.

But.. Lakers were stupid to ever sign him and even more stupid to include this option.

Yes all his numbers you mentioned were down.. but you forgot to mention...

Slow as hell and could not guard a dead guy. He can't move his feet at all anymore.

Waste of $5.4 Mil. Of course what should we expect form a team that would allow the ONE unstoppable force since Michael in the NBA to get away in favor of a piss-ant ball hog who killed them in the playoffs.