Golden State Warriors depth chart: How does the team line up their starting 5 after getting Gary Payton II and letting go of James Wiseman
The NBA trade deadline this season has certainly been one of the ages, and the Golden State Warriors didn't disappoint with their acquisition of Gary Payton II.
General manager Bob Myers traded James Wiseman and got GPII back in the lineup after a flurry of moves involving Atlanta, Detroit and Portland. The Dubs significantly improved their defense and gave the fans a player they wished never left in the first place.
When GPII left in the offseason after helping the Warriors win a ring, Bay Area fans were quite upset. He was a solid player who knew his role and defended the perimeter at a high level. Payton's contributions in the playoffs were evident, and his quick hands tortured the Boston Celtics' Jays in the 2022 NBA Finals.
The Golden State Warriors have certainly improved their depth and bolstered their chances of repeating as champions. Let's take a look at how their lineup gets updated after this trade.
Golden State Warriors depth chart after Gary Payton II trade
Not only were Dubs fans distressed to see him leave but so was Steph Curry. He asked Myers in the summer to make sure GPII doesn't go somewhere else, as he didn't want to face him. As per Payton II's article in The Player's Tribune, he said:
"We’ll see Bob Myers at the practice facility, and Steph will be like, 'Don’t let that man go nowhere and have him guarding me in games. I don’t need that, Bob.' Hearing something like that from Steph? It means everything."
Curry didn't want to lose GPII either, and that makes his return even sweeter for Bay Area fans. Moreover, James Wiseman was generating "bust" chatter and was not providing any meaningful production on the team.
His stats were so horrendous that he routinely stacked up DNPs and was often demoted to the G League, as he didn't get minutes. In fact, every five-man lineup that included Wiseman was a net negative on the floor. It's no surprise that the team got rid of him and his contract.
James Wiseman is AWFUL at basketball. https://t.co/MT7X22ZtyZ
So the depth chart doesn't change much with Wiseman out, as he wasn't getting minutes anyway. However, Gary Payton II's insertion into the second unit does wonders for the team.
The Golden State Warriors and coach Steve Kerr love playing small-ball lineups and multiple-guard lineups, so their centers are mainly forwards. The only bonafide center is Kevon Looney who often starts and occasionally comes off the bench if coach Kerr wants to start Jordan Poole for a game.
As bad as Wiseman was for the Dubs, he was their only other big man who could be a rim protector. GPII's acquisition was great news, but fans were quick to point out that the team didn't improve in size.
Nevertheless, the starting five is still the best five-man lineup in the NBA. What needed to improve was the bench's defense, and GPII does exactly that. Donte DiVincenzo is also an excellent perimeter defender, so the tandem would terrorize opposing guards.
No more debates. https://t.co/uALFOIq9xI
Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, JaMychal Green, Jonathan Kuminga and Kevon Looney will continue to do what they do, and their rotation is not expected to change.
The Golden State Warriors still need depth in the frontcourt, so these players will get their usual minutes regardless of Gary Payton II's return.
Does Gary Payton II acquisition majorly improve Golden State Warriors' title chances?
Gary Payton II doesn't need time to get used to the lineup or the system, as he already knows it.
The way the Golden State Warriors utilized him, he was a lob threat even at 6'3", and he gave them occasional shooting from downtown. He also developed a fairly trustworthy pick-and-roll with Steph Curry, so his minutes will be even better once Curry is back from injury.
However, this trade doesn't make the Warriors instant title favorites, despite their defending champion status. As mentioned above, they still need size in the frontcourt, and the other Western teams just got significantly better. With the Suns acquiring Kevin Durant and Dallas joining forces with Kyrie Irving, the Warriors have their work cut out.