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Kendra Andrews, ESPN
Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II has opted into his $9.1 million player option for the 2024-25 season, sources told ESPN.
At his exit interview in April, Payton hinted at his desire to return to Golden State but said he hoped to renegotiate his deal to possibly get more years with the organization.
Opting in gives Payton the flexibility to extend with the Warriors this offseason instead of becoming a free agent with more of a time restriction.
Payton has proved to be a key rotation option for the Warriors in his two stints with the team, but his availability has been inconsistent.
Last season, Payton played 44 games as he dealt with multiple injuries. He missed 13 consecutive games between November and December with a right calf strain, then 16 straight games between January and February with a left hamstring strain.
He has been available for just 66 of 124 games since Golden State reacquired him from the Portland Trail Blazers at last year’s trade deadline.
“It was a rocky season,” Payton said at his exit interview in April. “It’s been that way for the last two seasons. Just go back to the drawing board this summer, tighten it, tune it a little bit tighter, and just kind of more bulletproof my body, take some different routes and just try to get it stronger, better, last longer.”
In the games he did play, Payton averaged 5.5 points on 56.3% shooting.