Milwaukee Bucks: Gary Payton II 2016-17 season grades
Apr 2, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Payton II (0) guards Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea (5) in the third quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
The Milwaukee Bucks have officially begun their offseason, and that means understanding what they have before they identify what they need. How does their latest addition, Gary Payton II, grade out based on his 2016-17 performance?
The Milwaukee Bucks put together a surprisingly strong season that culminated in a playoff run, but now that the games are over they have to look to the future. With the NBA Draft just six weeks away and the start of free agency just beyond that, the time is now to evaluate the talent currently on the roster.
For both the Bucks' front office and its fans, it's a valuable exercise to look closely at the players and ask questions. What were their expectations coming into the season, and how did they stack up? Did they show major improvement — and is there hope of more growth to come? Will this player be a valuable asset to keep in the organization?
That first question is the place to begin, looking closely at how players did this season when matched up to expectations. While Giannis Antetokounmpo clearly performed better overall than Rashad Vaughn, how did each player's performance align with expectations?
While there isn't always a large sample of work to analyze, each player on the roster made it onto the court in some fashion. While the rotation was pulled tight in the postseason, the players on the back end of the roster still hold value.
That includes the the team's latest addition, former Oregon State Beaver Gary Payton II. How did he find his way to Milwaukee, and how did he perform this season?
Mar 18, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oregon State Beavers guard Gary Payton II (1) drives against Virginia Commonwealth Rams forward Mo Alie-Cox (12) in the first half during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Path to the Bucks
Gary Payton II was one of the best guard defenders in all of college basketball over his sophomore and junior years, winning PAC-12 Defensive Player of the Year in both 2015 and 2016. Not simply a one-trick pony, Payton was a strong offensive player as well, earning All PAC-12 honors in both 2015 and 2016 as well, leading the Oregon State Beavers to a record far above their talent level.
After Payton went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft, he caught on with the Houston Rockets organization, playing in Summer League and the preseason before finding his way onto the Rio Grande Valley Vipers as a Houston affiliate player. There his professional career truly begun, and he put up 14.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists over 48 contests.
Payton's moment in the spotlight came on Dec. 3, 2016, when he dropped 51 points on the Los Angeles D-Fenders, shooting 20-of-29 from the field and pulling in 11 rebounds — both impressive marks for a guard. His defense also stood out in the up-and-down D-League, as Payton used his strength and size to harry opposing guards.
Milwaukee saw enough from his tape in the D-League to bring him in late in the season. The team signed Terrence Jones earlier in the season, thinking that the former first round pick just needed the right environment to get back on track. But Jones never won the trust of head coach Jason Kidd, and he was waived by Milwaukee on Apr. 1.
That left room to add another player, and with point guard Malcolm Brogdon missing time the Bucks looked for another guard to fill in minutes as the end of the year approached. They signed Payton to what was originally reported as a 10-day contract, and later was confirmed to be a two-year deal, with a small partial guarantee on the second year.
Apr 12, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) goes to the basket around Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Payton II (0) during the second half of the Boston Celtics 112-94 win over the Milwaukee Bucks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Time On The Court
Payton appeared in just six games down the stretch for the Bucks, for the most part filling in as the backup point guard in Brogdon's absence. Twice he received more than 15 minutes of playing time, including the season finale when Kidd rested many of the team's regular rotation players.
Both of his longer opportunities resulted in poor shooting totals but a diverse contribution elsewhere in the box score.
The last game of the year saw Payton on the court for the longest period of time. With key players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton sitting, the guys at the back end of the roster were able to see more run. Payton played over 32 minutes, scoring only three points but chipping in seven rebounds, five assists, and amazingly, two blocks.
In none of his six individual games did the Bucks outscore the opposition during Payton's minutes, with the worst showing being a -21 mark in 30 minutes against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He played just 54 seconds against the Charlotte Hornets in the season's penultimate game, yet was -5. Despite stuffing the stat sheet against Boston in game 82 (sixth for Payton), the point guard was just 1-for-4 from the floor and a -18.
To make a definitive declaration after six games, most of which were played with ever-changing personnel, is not only foolish, but would sell Payton short . He certainly put in a lot of effort as befitting of a young player fighting for a roster spot. His ability to contribute outside of shooting was certainly a trait he communicated on the court, even if his ability to make shots was not.
Oct 21, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Houston Rockets point guard Gary Payton II (0) prepares to dunk the ball as San Antonio Spurs small forward Davis Bertans (42) defends during the second half at AT&T Center. The Spurs won 114-99. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Moving Forward
The Milwaukee Bucks currently have a full roster, as most NBA teams do at the conclusion of a season. But out of those 15 players, only nine are on fully guaranteed contracts, which means the roster could be shuffled in June and July.
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Gary Payton II is helped by the lack of a third point guard on the roster and, interestingly enough, the emergence of Malcolm Brogdon. Because the Bucks now have a "young point guard" in Brogdon, and Matthew Dellavedova as the veteran backup, they can pursue a young guard with upside in the third slot, rather than addressing their need for a starting point guard and pushing Brogdon down to that spot.
With a contract guarantee date of Jan. 10 of next year, the Bucks don't have to make a decision anytime soon either. Barring a need for his small cap hold, Milwaukee can hang onto him until training camp or preseason at the earliest.
One option for Payton would also be a two-way contract for the D-League. Barring an unexpected leap he will be spending time in Oshkosh next season; sliding from the 14th or 15th man to the 16th or 17th frees up roster space and makes it easier to keep Payton in the organization.
Spending time in the G-League next year will be a crucial way to develop his offensive game, especially how to score — shooting or at the rim — in traffic. He also needs to be able to shoot, and after going 1-for-9 from beyond the arc in six games, he still has work to do.
Apr 2, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Payton II (0) guards Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea (5) in the third quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Final Grade
There is not much more to say about Gary Payton II than what has already been discussed. He is a high-motor guard who has shown he will work as hard as he can to reach his goals. There is no reason to think he couldn't join the Milwaukee Bucks next season and fit right into the culture.
But basketball is about winning, ultimately, and when he was on the court this season Payton didn't win – in fact, Milwaukee always lost those minutes. Now some of that is understandable for a rookie, but he needs to show something to get the coaches to buy in.
While many may give this brief stint an incomplete, the goal here is to lock down every player into a grade. His flashes of upside in the G-League and defensive toughness are balanced out by his inability to score in the top league.
Grade: C
Not the bottom of the barrel, but plenty of work to do. If Payton's rise from community college player to NBA player was based on his work ethic, then the Bucks and us here at HoopsHabit are optimistic about his future.
