76ers could find a perfect midseason trade target in a Warriors fire sale

The Philadelphia 76ers had the best offseason of any team in the league after adding LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, and a handful of other solid contributors to their roster, but no lineup is ever perfect. As such, still consider the team as a likely player in the trade market during the season. On that note, one player they should keep a close eye on is Gary Payton II, who recently re-signed with the Warriors this summer.

Payton re-upped with Golden State to the tune of a one-year, veteran’s minimum deal after seeing his market dry up early in free agency. That being said, the nature of his deal is pretty reflective of the fact that the Warriors are no longer that confident about the ability of their aging veteran core to keep up with the beasts of the West, an echelon they are no longer a part of. Thus, it is likely that their front office will commence a fire sale soon enough, and Payton will become even easier to trade for.

The 76ers could set their sights on Gary Payton II as a midseason trade target

The 33-year-old registered a solid season for the Dubs last season, turning in 7.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and nearly a steal per game despite averaging just 15.6 minutes per outing. He remained a consistent part of Steve Kerr’s rotation as their resident perimeter stopper, which is his primary niche at this point.

The 76ers could still use someone like Payton, who makes an impact on winning without the need to have the ball in his hands often. The veteran wing, who was part of the Warriors squad that won the championship in 2022, also has ample experience in high-stakes affairs, which is another trait that Philly should hold in high regard.

Payton will not cost a lot to trade for given his role in the upcoming season, which is expected to be marginal at most. The Warriors will likely pivot to a youth movement sooner rather than later, so there should be a good chance that he will be moved before the trade deadline or even well before that juncture.

Philadelphia is still in the business of improving the roster on the margins, and Payton is certainly a good name to keep a close eye on when the season starts. Golden State is already having an existential crisis, and the 76ers can exploit that by going after one of their aging, yet solid veterans.