Payton wants out

Should the Shaquille O'Neal trade to Miami go through, as expected, you can safely expect Gary Payton to seek his own escape from the Lakers.

League sources told ESPN.com on Sunday night that Payton will push this week for a buyout of his contract if the Lakers complete the proposed trade with the Heat that would bring Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, Caron Butler and a future first-round pick to Los Angeles.

Payton, sources said, has serious reservations about what the Lakers can achieve without a recognized power player joining them in O'Neal's place. Without O'Neal, sources added, Payton has lost the teammate who lured him to Los Angeles. Lakers sources, however, indicated that the club would be reluctant to let Payton go without getting something back in a trade.

Although the root of Payton's discontent in his first season as a Laker was Phil Jackson's triangle offense, there were also questions from the start about how he would mesh offensively with Kobe Bryant, because both Payton and Bryant like to dominate the ball.

The Lakers have a busy week ahead no matter what Payton does. First, they must complete the O'Neal trade, and then comes their foremost assignment of the summer -- getting Bryant officially re-signed. Wednesday is the first day free agents can sign new contracts and the Lakers hope that Jackson's exit and the forthcoming O'Neal deal will convince Bryant to promptly ink a new seven-year contract worth an estimated $130 million. Bryant's other option is bolting to the cross-town Clippers in a six-year deal.

Payton, who turns 36 on July 23, exercised an option for next season worth $5.4 million, realizing that his spotty playoff production made it dicey that he could command a similar salary in free agency. To get away from the Lakers now, Payton must ask to be waived -- a request that would require negotiations between player and team to determine how much of that $5.4 million he'd receive as a payoff.

Payton could also ask to be traded, as O'Neal did, but sources say he'd prefer the buyout scenario, which would then free him to sign with another team of his choosing. The Lakers, though, could rebuff Payton and elect to keep him as a trade asset, because his salary-cap number might be attractive to teams looking for players in their final year of their contracts.

I guess Payton just doesn't believe in Kobe lol

http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~nbalive/ph ... 782#163782

Ha,the ship is goin down.Im surprised.I guess he was stayin becuz of shaq or either he don't like Rudy T.shame shame shame

I think Payton is thinking that the Lakers don't have a realstic chance at a championship without Shaq in the middle. Honestly, he is right. At this stage of Payton's career, he is only thinking of getting that elusive 1st championship ring.
Malone is back-peddling as well. Originally, he said that if he is healthy, he will only come back to the Lakers. Now, after the Shaq ordeal, Malone and his agent stated that their comments were only true if the Lakers remained the same team.

It looks as though the Lakers could have a completely new look next season apart from a couple of role players. It will be interesting to see if they remain one of the top eight teams in the West. The Lakers have always seemed to remain a playoff team through their rebuilding phases. The last time they missed the playoffs (1994) they still had a decent team and a record that wasn't too far under .500.

im thinking payton might go to the mavericks since they need a point guard and have a chance at winning it..plus they play a up tempo game which payton likes.

Devin Harris

and i dont think they would want him anyways

heres a good idea:

Houston

Come back to Seattle baby

To watch them just make the playoffs? Be kicked out? After being kicked out, watch Ray Allen opt out of his contract? Yeah, smart move Payton.

Perhaps they could pick up Kemp too.

he's got the size to fill up 3 centre positions

I guess we bout to be talkin bout GP tomorrow now that shaq has been traded

I guess we bout to be talkin bout GP tomorrow now that shaq has been traded

I doubt the GP issue will be resolved that quickly. I think if something happens it won't be for awhile. The Lakers have the upperhand here.

Payton will stay...

Link

i bet he realized he had no other choice i almost feel sorry for him, you come for the pizza and all thats left is the crumbs.

i bet he realized he had no other choice i almost feel sorry for him, you come for the pizza and all thats left is the crumbs.

Heh heh heh... out of desperation perhaps? Payton should've stuffed his big mouth!

He still sucks no matter what.Lets see if he actually does somethin since he doesnt have to share the ball like he had to last season?

one questoin
is the mailman suppose to play with them?

He still sucks no matter what.Lets see if he actually does somethin since he doesnt have to share the ball like he had to last season?

Yeah, 14 points and 6 assists as the number three(sometimes four) scorer really sucks. C'mon, after one bad playoffs, he all of a sudden sucks? Just because the Lakers couldn't guard the pick-and-roll and Phil Jackson took away his role in the offense? Lets be logical here.

one questoin
is the mailman suppose to play with them?

Even though nothing is official, there was a report a couple of weeks ago that strongly suggested that he was basically set on retirement.

Well...if Payton and Malone were traded to say Dallas/San ANtonio....we wouldnt get anyone in return...

But I do hope both play for Lakers next season!