Warriors Acquire Gary Payton II From Hawks In Exchange For Five Second-Round Picks

The Warriors sent five second-round picks to the Hawks for Payton, a defensive-minded guard who played for Golden State during the 2021-22 season.

Atlanta had acquired Payton from the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team trade in February.

The Warriors are getting back a key piece of their championship-winning team from last season. Golden State sent five second-round picks to the Hawks for Payton, a defensive-minded guard who played for the Warriors during the 2021-22 season.

Payton was a key part of the Warriors' defensive resurgence last season, averaging 1.4 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. He also provided a spark on offense, averaging 7.1 points per game on 61.6% shooting from the field.

The Hawks acquired Payton from the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team trade in February. He played 15 games for Atlanta, averaging 4.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game.

The Warriors are hoping that Payton can help them regain their defensive dominance from last season. Golden State ranked first in the NBA in defensive rating last season, but they have slipped to 11th this season.