According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, “Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton II have officially agreed to sign their contracts with the Warriors once the Jonathan Kuminga holdout ends. Now, all eyes are on whether Kuminga accepts one of Golden State’s offers or takes his qualifying offer.” Siegel added, “Whether or not the Warriors will have enough money for Seth Curry comes down to Kuminga’s decision and his cap hit.”

Horford, Melton, Payton, and Will Richardson will receive standard contracts. Including Kuminga, that brings Golden State to 14 players on their roster, putting the Warriors in position to compete for the title next season.

Something else worth noting is that the Warriors need to carefully evaluate their options if they truly want to pursue Seth Curry. Bringing the Curry brothers together in Golden State could create both a marketing boost and an on-court dynamic that might help the team contend for another championship.

Warriors land Al Horford

The Warriors have reportedly agreed to terms with Al Horford, according to Shams Charania and Brett Siegel. Horford is expected to sign a multi-year deal with the Warriors, although the contract has not yet been finalized. The five-time All-Star leaves Boston after spending seven of the last nine years with the Celtics, where he helped them capture the 2024 NBA championship.

This move addresses one of the Warriors’ biggest needs: the center position. With Kevon Looney’s departure, Horford provides the size, versatility, and defensive presence that Golden State lacked. He also fits seamlessly into the Warriors’ system as a stretch big who can defend multiple positions and space the floor.

Last season, Horford averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 42.3% from the field and 36.3% from beyond the arc. He remained one of the NBA’s premier isolation defenders, holding opponents to a 46% effective field-goal percentage, which ranked seventh-best in the league.

The Warriors’ roster

With De’Anthony Melton adding depth and competition at point guard alongside Brandin Podziemski and Stephen Curry, plus the return of Gary Payton II—who knows the Warriors’ system inside out—the roster looks more balanced. And of course, the potential addition of Seth Curry would bring a unique storyline, pairing him with his brother, Golden State’s franchise cornerstone.

The Warriors’ roster entering the 2025–26 season (with some players still on the RFA market):

• Stephen Curry
• Jimmy Butler
• Draymond Green
• Al Horford
• Jonathan Kuminga*
• Buddy Hield
• Brandin Podziemski
• Moses Moody
• Gary Payton II
• De’Anthony Melton
• Trayce Jackson-Davis
• Gui Santos
• Quinten Post
• Will Richard

A key piece of the 2022 NBA Finals team in Golden State, Gary Payton II delivered one of his best stretches as a pro after the All-Star break last season, averaging 9.1 points while posting an impressive 68.8 true shooting percentage. According to NBA reporter Scoop B Robinson, Curry understands just how valuable Payton can be to the group.

“I’m told Curry has been in direct contact with Gary Payton II, pushing for the Warriors to bring the defensive ace back on a two-year deal,” Robinson wrote in a recent report. Robinson also highlighted Payton’s on-court chemistry with Curry in the halfcourt as another factor behind the push for his return.

Payton became an unrestricted free agent after the conclusion of last season. The veteran guard has been evaluating multiple options, but despite interest from other teams, he has yet to sign a new deal. For now, his future remains unresolved.

According to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, Payton is waiting for Golden State to finalize the situation with Jonathan Kuminga. The 21-year-old forward is a restricted free agent, and whether he signs a new deal or is moved in a sign-and-trade could determine whether the franchise has the flexibility to bring Payton back.

The Warriors’ front office has yet to make a major move in free agency, and Kuminga’s contract negotiations are the primary reason. Once that situation is addressed, the pieces could start falling into place — potentially clearing the way for the return of the defensive specialist Curry is openly requesting.

Until then, Golden State will remain on hold. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Warriors have already put a two-year, $45 million offer on the table for Kuminga, and his decision will dictate what comes next for a NBA franchise trying to make one last push in the Curry era.

“I feel like it definitely has gotten softer since the ’80s and the ’90s. Like, Bad Boys Detroit Pistons, there were some teams in there … you come in the lane, you going to get a forearm. Back to [Shaquille O’Neal] era, early ’90s. And nowadays, they want to clean it up. They want the fans to see more like just play. So, I feel that’s why they calling more fouls, guys going to the line more,” Gary Payton II said, via Jaxxon Podcast.

The emergence of dominant players like Shaquille O’Neal propelled the league to implement significant changes to the game. This trend coincided with the rise of highly skilled athletes who emphasized technique and team play, shifting fan preferences toward these styles. In response, the NBA adjusted the rules to foster more offensive play, aligning with fan expectations.

Stephen Curry stands as one of the most scrutinized players, largely because his extraordinary talents have made him the ultimate three-point shooter. His impact reaches beyond personal achievements; as he has influenced teams like the Boston Celtics to evolve from a tougher, more physical style to one that prioritizes scoring finesse. This shift in strategy has altered defensive schemes, complicating gameplay and establishing a new trend in the league.

While Curry often attracts the spotlight, Rudy Gobert also faces his own set of criticisms, particularly from former stars like Shaquille O’Neal. Unlike the traditional “big men” of past eras, Gobert does not rely on physical dominance alone. Despite this, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ standout continues to shine defensively and contribute offensively, embodying the evolution of the modern NBA.

LeBron James has been vocal about the evolution of basketball, addressing the topic during an episode of the “Mind the Game” podcast in May 2025. He offered his perspective on the ever-changing nature of the sport, saying, “The game changes. The conversation on ‘I wish the game was like this,’ it’s too far to even be thinking about those type of things. It’s impossible. Everything changes… we have to just evolve with it. Just like how we do in every day life, we have to evolve with life.”

James has rarely made headlines for the wrong reasons in his personal life, and Gary Payton II revealed on the Jaxxon Podcast that the Lakers star is just as impressive away from the game.

“Good human, family dude,” Payton said. “On the court, he’s one guy, and off the court, he’s a family man. He’s amazing. Humble.” The 32-year-old guard emphasized that he was being genuine, adding that his relationship with James goes back decades.

“I’ve known Bron since he was in high school,” Payton recalled. “I was a young kid, and he used to come over to my dad’s house in Vegas when he was playing AAU ball and doing all that stuff.”

James also carries the heavy responsibility of being the face of the NBA — a role he has embraced flawlessly. He has set the standard for the league’s younger generation, balancing his career with being a devoted father who makes time for his children’s events, despite the demands of his Hall of Fame-caliber career.

Draymond Green, another Warriors veteran, isn’t usually quick to heap praise on others, but he didn’t hold back when discussing James’ off-court excellence. Green believes James is the greatest ambassador the league has ever had.

“When you look at those three things, it’s a testament to how he lives his life,” Green said. “I recently said he’s the greatest face the NBA has ever had. Think about the day and age we live in — cameras everywhere, social media — he’s never had a scandal. Never been arrested. Never photographed drunk. Those things go hand in hand with durability, longevity, and consistency. It’s a testament to the discipline he has in his life, and basketball is a result of that.”

“It speaks to the person that he is,” Green continued. “And basketball — and the NBA as a whole — has benefited from having someone like him represent the game.”

The team officially ruled out Payton due to illness, marking a significant loss given his impact on both ends of the floor. According to Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, Payton woke up feeling ill and has been unable to eat—prompting the coaching staff to hold him out as a precaution.

“Gary woke up sick, hasn’t been able to eat,” Kerr said, via Anthony Slater of The Athletic. “There’s no way he can play. We’re still discussing the impact on the rotation and potential lineup adjustments.”

Payton’s value on both ends

Payton, one of Golden State’s best perimeter defenders and a reliable spark off the bench, has averaged 16 minutes per game in the series, contributing 6.3 points and 2.3 rebounds on 50% shooting from the field and 40% from three. His presence has provided a defensive edge, particularly against Houston’s quick backcourt.

Over the course of the regular season, Payton remained steady in his role. In 62 NBA games (11 starts), he averaged 6.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game while shooting 57.4% from the field and 32.6% from beyond the arc.

Injuries continue to plague the Warriors

Payton’s absence marks the third time this series a Warrior has missed a game due to sudden health concerns. Rookie guard Brandin Podziemski was severely limited in Game 2 due to a stomach illness that restricted him to 14 ineffective minutes. Jonathan Kuminga also missed Game 5 after being sidelined by a migraine.

Starting lineup shuffle expected

With Payton out, the Warriors are expected to make changes to the starting five. Podziemski is likely to rejoin the starting unit alongside Buddy Hield, Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green. In Game 6, Payton started while Podziemski came off the bench.

Rotational adjustments are also on the table. With Houston relying on a bruising frontcourt led by Steven Adams and Alperen Şengün, Golden State may lean more on Kevon Looney. The Rockets have posted a staggering 46.3% offensive rebound rate with Adams and Şengün on the floor together. Looney played just two minutes in Game 6 but is expected to see more action in Game 7.

“I would expect Loon to play more than he did last night,” Kerr said. Jonathan Kuminga could also see expanded minutes due to Houston’s physical style of play—something Kerr may need to counter to avoid being overpowered on the interior.

The Dubs lost some key pieces in the offseason, mostly on the defensive side of the ball. Otto Porter Jr., Juan Toscano-Anderson, and Nemanja Bjelica all played a big part in last year’s championship run.

However, none of those losses compares to Gary Payton II, as he was their best defender by a long stretch. In fact, it seems like some Warriors players are still mad at the front office for not resigning him.

NBA Rumors: Warriors Players Are Mad At The Front Office For Letting Gary Payton II Go

“If there is anything that the guys on that team, around that team, are upset with, it is letting Payton go, letting him get paid somewhere else like he did,” a Western Conference executive told Heavy’s Sean Deveney. “Everyone understands that with the [luxury] tax, it was really tough to bring him back, but they could have kept him and let [Kevon] Looney walk because, in theory, it would be easier to replace a big guy.”

“Looney means a lot in that locker room, and it is tricky playing center for the Warriors, so they felt they had to keep him,” the executive added. “But losing Payton has really hurt that bench.”

Payton hasn’t been able to play this season due to injury, but it shouldn’t take long before he’s back on the court. He went from being an afterthought and barely making the roster to becoming one of the most respected players in the locker room.

Steve Kerr has scrambled with his rotations to try and fix their defensive flaws, especially in the second unit. Unfortunately, maybe the guy they needed is the one they let go of because of the luxury tax.

With that in mind, GMs and coaches leave no stone unturned looking for those guys who can play lockdown D. So, if they can also hit the occasional three or be a positive factor in the offensive end of the floor, you better believe they’ll log plenty of minutes.

Those guys don’t often get the recognition they deserve, nor the big contracts they would’ve gotten if they were scorers. But here, we’ll honor them by letting you know about three dark horse candidates to win DPOY.

NBA Rumors: Dark Horse Candidates To Win DPOY

3. Jrue Holiday

Several NBA players can all agree that Jrue Holiday is the best defender in the league, yet he rarely gets any love for Defensive Player of the Year. That might change now that Marcus Smart is the reigning winner of the award.

Holiday has long arms and is deadly in passing lanes. He can pick your pocket in the blink of an eye, and his length allows him to haunt rival players all over the court and force turnovers and tough shots.

2. Alex Caruso

Alex Caruso became popular and a fan favorite as a joke, but he earned every single minute of playing time and every penny of his contract. His grit, energy, and hustle make him a major factor for theChicago Bulls.

Caruso is the ultimate ball-hawk. He’ll dive and put his body on the line on every 50/50 balland will hound opposing guards and stick to them like a fly on a frog’s tongue. He’s pesky, suffocating, and physical.

1. Gary Payton II

The Golden State Warriors will regret lowballing Gary Payton II. He was a massive contributor to their recent successand was perhaps the best perimeter defender in the league last season, even ahead of Smart.

Payton II went from an afterthought and barely making the Dubs’ roster to getting a big payday, all thanks to his defense and hustle. Just like his old man, he can even check bigger playersand is strong enough to hold his own in the post.

Against all odds, Gary Payton II ended up being a key contributor to the team’s championship-winning season. His great production coming off the bench made him an interesting target in the free agency.

Payton II seized his new reputation to sign a three-year, $28 million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers. Though he could have opted to re-sign with the Dubs, the possibility of a bigger paycheck drove him to Oregon.

Gary Payton II explains why he left Golden State for Portland

“I had to take the money,” Payton II said on the”Truth & Basketball with George Karl,” via NBC Sports.“I had to take the money coach [George Karl]. It didn’t work out. I would love to go back to Golden State, but it didn’t work out. Just the timing and everything. Just a business deal, and I just had to take the money.

“I Love Oregon,” Payton added. “Portland is great up here. Two years with Corvallis and I had my time in P-town. But I love Oregon. But it was nothing against Oregon. I was going to take the money regardless of where it was.”

It’s certainly an interesting addition for the Blazers, who have retooled their roster for this season. Having also landed Jerami Grant, Portland hopes its offseason moves will help Damian Lillard take this team to new heights.

Before the2021-22 NBA season, Payton II signed multiple 10-day contractswith the Warriors to be part of the squad during the pre-season. Shortly after he was waived, Payton II didn’t have many options. So, he opted out to apply for a job as video coordinator for the Warriors to be closer to the team.

Then, duringthe first week of the season Payton II signed a one-year deal with the Warriors. He was a starter in 73 regular-season games with the Dubs. He also started in two games in the Western Conference semifinals, but he got injured. So for Game 5 in the Finals, Payton II made his return to post 15 points, five rebounds and three steals. Then, the Warriors went on to win the NBA title, so he could be partof thisvery special list.

Gary Payton and Gary Payton II become the newest father-son duo to win the championship

Living up to a father’s history can be very tough. Especially if your father was an NBA player who got himself the championship. In fact, its not so common that a father and a son both clinched the NBA championship. The first father-son duo that both clinched the title as playerswereMatt Guokas Sr and Matt Jr. The father won it in the first-ever NBA season, while the son made it in the 1967season with the Philadelphia 76ers.

The next duo is Rick Barry and Bren Barry, the father won it with the Golden State Warriors in 1975, asthe son won it with the San Antonio Spurs in 2005. Then, as if it was coordinated, Bill Walton won the championship with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977and his son Luke Walton was part of the Los Angeles Lakers who won the 2009 NBA Championship.

In the last decade, Klay Thompson clinched his first NBA title to even his father Mychal Thompson who won his first in 1987 with the Los Angeles Lakers. So the newest duo is the Payton one. Gary Payton father won the championship with the Miami Heat in 2006, and his sonbecame the 2022 NBA Champion with the Golden State Warriors.

Stephen Curry and company are just a few steps away from tasting the ultimate glory again, having won their last title in 2018. Steve Kerr‘s boys went through a lot in the past three years, but they eventually found their way back to prominence.

With Klay Thompson healthyafter a long time, Draymond Green recovered in time for the playoffs, and role players like Andrew Wiggins performing at an incredible level, the Dubs found the best version of themselves again. On top of that, they’re recovering another important player for the Finals.

Report: Warriors expected to have Gary Payton II back for Game 1 ofNBA Finals

According to Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Gary Payton II is nearing his return to NBA action. In fact, he could be ready for the very first game of the Finals, which begin on Thursday.

(Via The Athletic)

“The Warriors are anticipating the return of a major rotation piece for the upcoming NBA Finals. Gary Payton II is progressing well and there’s optimism that he could be back at some point early in the series, possibly as soon as Game 1, sources told The Athletic on Friday…

“The injury occurred on May 3. Payton was given a three-to-five week timetable. Game 1 of the finals is on June 2, four weeks post-fracture. Payton’s left arm was immobilized in the initial days after the fracture, but he has been amping up his workouts in recent days.”

Payton has been on the sidelines since May 3, when he fractured his elbowagainst the Memphis Grizzlies afterDillon Brooks made a scary challenge whilehe was on the air attempting to reach the rim.

Andre Iguodala is also expected to return at some point during the Finals, which would only boost the Warriors’ aspirations. With the title closer than ever, the Dubs will needall hands on deck.