As the NBA offseason inches toward its quieter phase, credible voices in league circles are starting to converge on a noteworthy development: the Los Angeles Lakers have their sights set on free agent guard Gary Payton II.
The first to stoke the flames was Anthony Irwin, a longtime Lakers insider, who posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Payton is “very much on the Lakers’ radar.” Shortly after, Evan Sidery of Forbes corroborated the buzz, reporting that the Lakers are among several teams—along with the Bucks, Heat, Suns, and Warriors—expressing “recent free agent interest” in the tenacious perimeter defender.
These reports align with what The Athletic’s Dan Woike and Joe Vardon wrote earlier this week: “team sources have said that improving the team’s point of attack defense is a priority.”
A Logical Fit
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Payton II, now 32, may not be the flashiest name on the board, but he fits a very specific need. The Lakers’ pursuit of defensive-minded wings this offseason has already led them to Marcus Smart, a former Defensive Player of the Year. Payton—who was instrumental in the Warriors’ 2022 championship run—is a similarly disruptive presence with a proven playoff résumé.
Even with Smart on board, there’s room—and arguably a need—for another perimeter stopper. Injuries have limited Jarred Vanderbilt, and rookie Adou Thiero remains a long-term project. Payton’s addition would give the Lakers another versatile piece capable of defending opposing stars at the point of attack.
Payton’s Resume and Championship Pedigree
Payton may never be known for his offense, but his impact defensively has long been lauded. During the 2022 playoffs, he averaged 6.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game while playing elite defense in high-leverage moments. In Game 5 of the NBA Finals, Payton’s 15-point, three-steal performance helped tip the scales in Golden State’s favor.
He finished the most recent season in the 92nd percentile in defensive estimated plus-minus, according to Dunks & Threes, and opponents shot 7.7 percentage points worse against him than their season average in the playoffs, per NBA.com. Even Warriors coach Steve Kerr called him “one of the best defensive players in the league,” via Marc J. Spears of Andscape.
The Agent Switch That Raised Eyebrows
Fueling speculation was Payton’s recent change in representation. The veteran guard signed with Bill Duffy, the agent of Luka Dončić and Deandre Ayton. While an agent switch doesn’t guarantee a team change, Lakers fans were quick to note the connection—especially with Dončić now in L.A. and Ayton recently acquired as well.
Irwin and Sidery weren’t the only ones to pick up on it. The move was widely seen as a signal that Payton may be eyeing a reunion with stars on a team poised to contend.
A Subtle Yet Smart Move
As Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley noted, a potential Payton signing “may not garner a lot of headlines (save for those attached to every Lakers’ update),” but it could be another quiet, strategic win for a front office that has added Smart, Jake LaRavia, Deandre Ayton, and Thiero this summer while staying under the tax apron.
“Like the LaRavia, Ayton and Thiero additions, though, it’d be another smart, subtle upgrade to a roster that has quietly addressed a number of needs already,” Buckley wrote.
The Lakers’ Defensive Identity Taking Shape
There’s still work to be done to round out the roster, but a Payton addition would solidify the Lakers’ defensive identity heading into 2025-26. His fit alongside Dončić, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves feels natural: a low-usage offensive player who thrives in transition, cuts well off-ball, and can camp in the corners on offense while hounding opposing guards on defense.
For a team already deep into the Western Conference arms race, it’s the kind of move that doesn’t dominate the headlines but could shift a playoff series come May.