Rumor: Warriors to Release CJ Watson for Gary Payton

by Atma Brother ONE on Jan 20, 2008 9:24 PM PST in Rumors Comment 47 comments

The Warriors recent DLeague call-up CJ Watson is just a few days into his second 10-day contract. I've liked what I've seen from him in his very limited playing time so far, but it doesn't look like the Warriors are going to have the FM radio dial set on 102.9 that much longer. A Bay Area hoops legend could be throwing up that W and talking tons of hilarious trash real soon though. Make the jump for the details.

From Ira Winderman [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]:

BOOBY PRIZE: Awkward moment of the week had to belong to Golden State's C.J. Watson, who was honored before last week's game against the Pacers for being the 100th all-time NBA call-up from the Developmental League. Warriors executive and former Boyd Anderson star Mitch Richmond did the presenting. Watson soon is expected to be released in favor of former Heat guard Gary Payton.

ESPN's Weekend Dime also had a bit on BD's thoughts on Payton in a Warriors' jersey:

Baron Davis continues to say that he would welcome the free-agent addition of Gary Payton if Warriors coach Don Nelson eventually decides he wants a more seasoned backup at the point.

"Absolutely," Davis said. "Him being an Oakland native, his mentality and leadership, he'd fit in great with us."

Like I said when the first legit rumor (if there's even such a thing) about Payton unretiring to throw on a Warriors jersey dropped- Love GP. Love to have him here. Love to root for him. But I don't think it makes much basketball sense. Love to be proven wrong though!

Who's the better option as a backup PG for the Warriors this year? CJ or GP?

99% of rumors never happen, but 99% of them are fun to talk about!

GP to the Bay

The GSoM CJ File

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Jack,Baron,Gp

There will be plenty of trash talking and pleading with refs. Refs already seem to dislike our team. I really thought cj was playin well and is clearly a better shooter then payton.

by houseofprime2 on Jan 20, 2008 9:33 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

wtf

self destruct, please keep cj

brb, going to ORACLE

by warrior510 on Jan 20, 2008 9:35 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Keep CJ

I think many would agree that while we do love the Glove (especially since he's from Oakland) CJ is the better option. Cheaper, younger, and as houseofprime2 pointed out, better shooter...you can't ignore all of that. I'm sure that GP's knowledge of the game will help and maybe ease Nellie's mind when letting BD sit, but I still think that Mullin and Nellie both think that CJ's the better option.

by gunwing54 on Jan 20, 2008 9:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

noo

not cj after reading his blog i am starting to like this kid... not hating on payton but hes old... we don't need another injured PG like hudson. BD is already worrying enough.

by saintdee on Jan 20, 2008 9:45 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Ugh

Why?
Keep CJ.

by jtoj on Jan 20, 2008 9:47 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

yawn

The South-Florida media and ESPN have some up-to-date, insider info that neither pree nor the local media (none of whom have suggested we're closer than we ever were) have?

I laugh.

SB Nation Quality Control

AIM: Jetforze

by OptionZero on Jan 20, 2008 9:47 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

GP!!

I have been impressed with CJ's play so far, and I also am optimistic that Payton still has a little left in the tank. Therefore, I think they are both viable options for the W's at backup PG for the rest of the season.

I may be in the minority here, but I think GP is a better option for the Warriors than CJ for two reasons: First, because I believe he would inspire greater trust from Baron and Nelson, leading to more rest for #5 throughout the regular season. (Nellie only plays people he belives in, and I think that Baron & GP's mutual respect is more valuable in that regard than CJ's good performances in his few opportunities so far). Secondly, Payton actually is a clutch playoff performer. He hit key shots in helping the Heat actually win a championship. Along with Jax, the W's would then have two bona-fide, ring-wearing role models (Note: I am assuming that the W's will not sign GP if he will negatively disprupt the team chemistry).

Lastly, with Jax, Baron, and GP, the Warriors have 3 of maybe the most hilarious trash talkers of all time. What other two players (current or historical) would best complete the "Funny 5"? I would say a trade for Shaq and then a package to lure the only-slightly-more-washed-up-than-Payton Charles Barkley out of retirement, we would be set!!!

by Bucky on Jan 20, 2008 9:57 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

step backward

watson's been playing well so i don't really see a reason do get rid of him in favor of an ancient and most likely washed up pg

by AJC3317 on Jan 20, 2008 9:58 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Isn't GP a little old?

Can GP really run in the uptempo offense of the dubs? We know CJ can because we've seen it.

GP is better suited for a half court team based on his skills and his age.

We need CJ, White Chocolate or Damon Sodomizer.

by warriordean on Jan 20, 2008 10:11 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

too bad

we didn't sign GP before CJ..

Right now i wouldn't let go of Watson for Payton. I'll give Mulson more credit than these "rumors". They have to be blind or stupid to release CJ this early in his career.

Warriors, Stupidest franchise in the league.

by kenntoe on Jan 20, 2008 10:20 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

ummm NO PLZ NO

y would we pay more for something the same value
cj- young, more energy, currently in the nba, shooting is pretty good, CHEAPER
gp- experience, losing his touch, retired for sometime, More expensive than cj

by 8monta on Jan 20, 2008 10:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

GENIUS IN THE HOUSE

I have an idea.

GP wants to come here and take Watson's job?

GP can go to the D-league. Play there a month.

he puts up better numbers, i'll pay his contract myself.

SB Nation Quality Control

AIM: Jetforze

by OptionZero on Jan 20, 2008 10:45 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

GP

Do. Not. Want.

Somebody said this a while ago: "Troy freakin' Hudson made it on the team over him."

We're all B.D.'s sidekicks. He's got like five sidekicks. We're like the Power Rangers. - Al

by Caught Backcourt on Jan 20, 2008 10:48 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Atma, reeeeealy now

your pushing the GP issue is not going to make it happen

just because Baron said it'd be "great" to have GP here doesn't make it a rumor

What does the unsubstantiated column-filling opinion of Ira Winkerdoodle of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel mean?

this does not warrant a front page entry - this has been and is still a non-story and will remain so

to wit, if GP is signed by the Dubs I will praise you to the hilt for your unbridled, far-reaching vision and acumen!!!

by hardcore on Jan 20, 2008 10:48 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

sometimes its just fun!

99% of rumors never happen, but 99% of them are fun to talk about!

i got an elevator in my house...... thats f'ing ridiculous

by stevenro59 on Jan 21, 2008 12:06 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah but

This doesn't come close to the minimum threshold required to be considered a "rumor." Baron would love to have him? Come on. Baron would love to have Paul Pierce, too.

More importantly, CJW is a better player than Old Man Payton, and Mulson are not idiots.

by Sleepy Freud on Jan 21, 2008 4:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

well

I deeply appreciate that GSoM is here and we can all participate in meaningful discussions - but instead of putting up the preview for a real game coming today we get this dribble on the front page - again (GP as a fixation that hasn't reached KG or Yi proportions, but ...) and it doesn't even seem to stand up to the level of a diary much less warrant this space ...

by hardcore on Jan 21, 2008 8:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for your thoughts

This didn't go up because "BD wanted GP"- that would just be silly and I'm not sure how anyone could read it that way. That was just thrown in there as an interesting bit. By itself you're right it wouldn't be a "rumor" one bit.

This rumor is based on the piece from Ira Winderman which stated that CJ was expected to be released for GP. That was the first place I've read that. Whether that's right or wrong or another GM/ agent smoke screen- who knows? But that's how rumors work. Literally 99% of the ones you read never happen. You have to take each one you read with a pound of salt, but they almost always provide a great opportunity for people to evaluate their own team and other players around the league. Nothing more nothing less.

by Atma Brother ONE on Jan 21, 2008 10:20 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

we don't need Payton

he's old and out of it

CJ just worked perfectly with the team and now we're cutting him? bad idea

Thunder!!!

by PHUT! on Jan 20, 2008 10:52 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

keep cj!

i haven't had a chance to watch a lot of warriors basketball lately, but what i have seen of CJ is impressive. he isn't afraid to shoot the basketball and he can shoot it well. if it ain't broke...

by antihero on Jan 20, 2008 11:26 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

dubs

payton already got his ring. stay retired please

cj is more than capable.

art by jnazaire 07

by disguy on Jan 20, 2008 11:29 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Obviously:

At the beginning of the season, I would have taken Payton, no doubt. Now? Watson, no doubt.

Tony.psd = Da Man

http://adonalobsessed.blogspot.com/

by Zorgon on Jan 20, 2008 11:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

this rumor's validity died to me when I realized

the dubs still haven't cut THUD. Your gonna cut a contributing member of the team for a washed up player when there's already one of those washed up guys getting paid to get 4th and 5th opinions on the current roster. If anyone is getting cut to make room for GP its THUD. Those south florida rumor mongers need to get the act together. They need to go back to sending fake irish lottery emails.

Best duo since...

by Tim N Chris Burger on Jan 20, 2008 11:47 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Thud

Nothing in the way Nelson has used Watson suggests that he's on his way out the door. He got his second 10-day contract a couple of days ago and could easily have been shown the door at that point. In about a week when that one ends, we'll see how serious they are about him as he'll need to be either inked for the rest of the season or get handed a bus ticket back to Frostbite Falls.

I think that the fact that Hudson is injured makes things a bit complicated in the past. Regardless of whether or not his contract was guaranteed, if he was cut, his salary, minimal as it is, was guaranteed for the season. On Jan 10, when all contracts (not of the 10 day variety) were guaranteed, this ceased to be anything to consider. He's paid for the duration not matter what. There's zero reason to release him until there's another move to be made. But there is some small, but real reason to keep him around. Until he's released, his salary is a potential bargaining chip in a potential trade. I don't see Payton as being able to provide anything on the court anymore. He couldn't provide anything at all a year ago in a more plodding lineup with a more powerful inside game and was only marginally better than completely washed up the two seasons before. It's been a long time since he was a marginal player and he's gone downhill to quite a bit below marginal.

My guess is that Thud's on roster until the trade deadline, at which point, as an injured player out for the season whose contract issue beyond this season is not an issue, he's out the door as soon as they need to bring in another body.

That said, I don't see another body contributing much more than Hudson is contributing right now. Payton won't help and the big man we want probably isn't available as a NBDL signee.

by jae on Jan 21, 2008 9:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Good explanation

And I whgoleheartedly agree: Payton brings nothing to the table (that's good, anyway), and the kid is proving his mettle -- and improving his play -- every game. The W's would have to be idiots to pour Payton into this mix.

by johnl on Jan 21, 2008 11:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll believe it

when it happens.

by semarubaka on Jan 21, 2008 12:47 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't...

...see it happening in a million years. All this GP coming out of retirement talk heated up cause he apparently told somebody he could be a better backup for the Celtics than Eddie House (which is probably not true). The notion that he would sign with us is doubtful, and the notion that we would sign him is laughable. The last time Mullin brought in a prehistoric kinda vet was Clifford Robinson, who did as admirable a job as I could hope, but since then he's shown a committment to building from mature youth.

Whenever I think of GP, I remember this article I read at freedarko.com... I forget the whole thing, but one of the points it made was this: How sadly far has Gary Payton fallen that his biggest moment in the '06 Finals was hitting a deep two pointer that anybody could hit? And how sad is it that it seemed like a surprise when it went in?

by Zack Vank on Jan 21, 2008 12:52 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

GP's Agent...

sure has a lot of connections in the media. It seems like every week there is another story popping up about him making a comeback.

Wake me up if he ever plays in the NBA again.

by olympicmike on Jan 21, 2008 12:57 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

PLEASE

Keep CJ. I hate how the warriors always get rid of their young talent before we even get a chance to see them develope. I was and still disappointed Aaron Miles didnt get a chance after Nelson took over for Monty.

I would give a young kid playing to feed his family a chance over a washed out star who already has a ring.

KEEP CJ!

by Zenmasta on Jan 21, 2008 1:04 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Miles?

What happened to him? Did he catch on with another team?

by tangel29 on Jan 21, 2008 1:17 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Quiet Storm > Glove

Well, it sounds like the majority of the people on this board agree that we should keep CJ and not sign GP. This is probably true based on their style of play and their personalities.
GP can possibly screw things up.
Remember it wasn't all smooth playing for the Lakers w/ Malone and Kobe.

by warriordean on Jan 21, 2008 2:08 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

no

its based on the age difference. Payton is old old old. Old people tend to get injured more. Our backup PG should be hale and healthy not old and past his prime.

by saintdee on Jan 21, 2008 2:41 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

yo zack vank

most of the reason that shot was a big deal was just because he was blowin in that series, he was still pretty good that year and they always played better when he was in the game.
still, now cj is better, but gp is still more kickass.

by latvianlegendflex on Jan 21, 2008 3:04 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Watson and Payton

Seems to me that Watson, at this point, is a better option for the Warriors in terms of talent and production. But the swag Payton brings with him wherever he goes could boost the Warriors mentally. I don't know. Nothing a Don Nelson-run team does ever makes sense to me.

Third Quarter Collapse - An SB Nation blog for Orlando Magic fans

by Ben Q Rock on Jan 21, 2008 7:44 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I say we sign the glove.

Then do the following.

Trade Payton, CJ watson & TPE for Anthony Roberson.

This team is croosh.

by WingStop Warrior on Jan 21, 2008 8:04 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Hudson...

Isnt Hudson still on the team as "Injured"?

They waived DJ to get watson. So they still have another slot to get GP (as an experiment) if they waive hudson.

Hudson is out for the season anyways, there is no reason he is should still be on the team.

Roster currently stands at 15. http://www.nba.com/warriors/roster/index.html

;P Drop Hudson and try out GP. It wont hurt!

by Delinquentsoul on Jan 21, 2008 8:59 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

cap?

it's possible Hudson's contract could still be useful in a trade scenario, or maybe they don't want to give up on him yet (?!) but in any case, GP would not fit

by hardcore on Jan 21, 2008 9:06 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

asdf

hudson makes like 750kish and ends this year..

Its not what u call a "good expiring contract"

by Delinquentsoul on Jan 21, 2008 9:11 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

contract = trade value, however small

for purposes of matching salaries ...

by hardcore on Jan 21, 2008 11:46 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

damn

I almost started hyperventilating when I saw the article title. Been lovin' the kid. From his first FSN interview and blog, how can anyone not favor the mixture of hunger and composure he's been showing.

On another note, I was gloating inside when GP (and Malone) weren't able to get a ring with the Lakers.

by ViveAirFrance on Jan 21, 2008 9:12 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Watson and Payton

I like CJ Watson a lot and I think he's worth a roster spot and shouldn't be cut. If Mulson wanted Payton, they probably would have got him before they got Watson and they must have considered him before they picked up Quiet Storm. Watson has been excellent - better than they would have expected so why would they cut him now to get Payton who they would have known about for ages and could have got earlier in the season?
Why don't they just cut Hudson, then they could get Payton in for this year while keeping Watson as he has potential for the future.

Note: Free-throw shooting could be key in this year's playoffs and Payton is only a 72% career free-throw shooter, Watson is nearly 90%.

by zaki on Jan 21, 2008 9:33 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Zaki writes...

"If Mulson wanted Payton, they probably would have got him before they got Watson and they must have considered him before they picked up Quiet Storm."

And before we reconsidered giving CJ an award for being "#100" and again before we reconsidered signing him for another 10 day contract.

Time is short again for CJ to prove himself...the position is his to lose.

by streetballer on Jan 21, 2008 9:47 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

asdf

old people must go to Miami

build a team & destroy the roof

by Lat We N Trash on Jan 21, 2008 10:29 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't mind Payton on the team

if it was THud getting waived to open up a roster spot for him. Keep CJ.

by nautica on Jan 21, 2008 11:26 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

CJ wont be cut

Before the game today. Nellie said in his press conference rookies will only play if they help him win. CJ has helped them win so he will Play. He then said he loves that guy.

by Athletix Man on Jan 21, 2008 4:40 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

its all about money!

if warriors pull this off,

cj and gary payton are pretty equal with what they can bring to the court. Cj has athletic ability, Gary has experience. If warriors make this move, it's about MONEY!!!

who wouldnt want to buy a gary payton warrior jersey!!! Make some cash!!!

The solution, keep both! keep cj and see what he can do, bring gary and see what he can do. We get two guards that can spell Davis some minutes. Get rid of THUD!!!

Impactsounds.com

by djtec on Jan 21, 2008 5:23 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

equal?

Considering how terrible Payton was last year, how not particularly useful he was the year before and considering that players in their late 30s rarely reverse rapid declines, how can you really compare what Payton brings to the table at this point?

He's got experience, but his experience was based on how he could control his body and do things when he wasn't over-the-hill. Payton's 'experience' wasn't worth a damn last year when he didn't get any elevation on his jump shot because his legs are shot, when he was two steps slow and couldn't get by anyone on the dribble and when he couldn't stay in front of anyone on defense.

The romantic notion of Payton from a decade ago is there, but the reality is that he's not just past his prime, but WAY past his prime. He was a liability when he played last year, a substantial liability such that the odds of anyone else an NBA team could get being better was pretty high.

by jae on Jan 22, 2008 1:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs