No one is more excited about the NBA’s expansion than Gary Payton II. Precisely with the possible revival of the Seattle Super Sonics, the Seattle native expressed his desire to demand a trade to put on the iconic jersey at least once in his career. However, his Golden State Warriors‘ teammate, Draymond Green, has a warning, or reminder of sorts.

On The Draymond Green Show, the Warriors veteran forward said, “So GP said young GP, GP II, my teammate GP said he’d request a trade immediately if he had a chance to play as a Seattle SuperSonic. I bet he would.” He added, “But be careful with your words, G, because you got a home here in Golden State. And I don’t know if them Seattle Super Sonics are going to accept you like that, G. So be careful with your words.”

Recently, Payton II sat with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson to discuss his memories of the ’96 finals and his desire to see professional basketball return to the Pacific Northwest. During the conversation, Scoop B asked GP II, “How cool would it be to see Seattle get an NBA team again?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, the 33-year-old guard said, “Great. I would probably request a trade immediately! [Laughs]. Even though I love where I’m at, it’s about being able to throw on that Sonics jersey before my career is over. I really hope they end up getting that done so I can go hoop for the hometown one time.”

Under the NBA’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement, players (or their reps) who publicly express a desire to be traded can face fines up to $150,000, a rule that shows the sensitivity around such statements, even hypothetical ones like GP II’s.

Now, the NBA is inching closer to a major shake-up. Recently, the board of governors confirmed a formal discussion on expansion. Seattle and Las Vegas are emerging as frontrunners for new teams by the 2028-29 season. Meanwhile, this decision carries emotional weight. Especially for Gary Payton II, who grew up in Seattle during the electric 90s era led by his Hall of Fame father, Gary “The Glove” Payton.

However, the story runs deeper. Back in 2008, arena funding disputes forced the beloved Super Sonics to relocate, transforming into the Oklahoma City Thunder. Since then, Seattle has waited. Now, at 33 and approaching free agency next offseason, Payton II still holds onto that childhood dream. The chance to return home. The chance to wear his father’s legacy.

While GP II’s comments are tied to a hypothetical revival rather than an existing team, NBA history offers parallels. For instance, when the Vancouver Grizzlies drafted Steve Francis No. 2 overall in 1999, he publicly made clear he had no interest in playing there (citing family and location concerns), effectively forcing a trade to the Houston Rockets before ever suiting up.

Draymond Green’s teammate is losing his place in the rotation

Now, while Draymond Green is a permanent name on the starting five and rotation, GP II is seemingly losing his spot. The numbers whisper before they scream. For Gary Payton II, the 2025- 26 season tells a quiet story.

His minutes have slipped to 14.5 from 15.5 last year, a 6.45% dip. Look deeper, and the fall feels sharper. Compared to his 17.6-minute peak in 2021 to 22, that is a 17.6% drop. Meanwhile, efficiency is fading. Field goal percentage slides from 57.4% to 54.5%, down 5.05%. Three-point shooting dips from 32.6% to 30.6%, another 6.13% fall. However, the twist keeps it intriguing.

His numbers look better on paper, scoring jumped from 5.5 to 6.6, a solid 20% bump. But if you dig into the recent games, things get messy. His minutes swing wildly, sometimes 19, sometimes 28, then suddenly zero for two games in a row.

Even though he’s played 61 games total, his role feels shaky. The rotation’s changing, and Payton II’s slipping down the pecking order.

While the prospect of a Seattle return is personal for Payton, his on-court future with the Warriors is becoming less secure, creating a clear career crossroads.