With his two-way contract set to expire soon, Gary Payton ll will be waived by the Milwaukee Bucks in the coming days, according to ESPN’s Chris Haynes.
Payton started in a handful of games this season with the team, and it’s a decision which hasn’t been well-liked within the Bucks’ locker room, according to Haynes.
Milwaukee plans to waive guard Gary Payton II in the coming days, league sources tell ESPN. His 45 days of service as a two-way player ends Monday.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) December 17, 2017
Payton II started six games for Bucks. This is not a popular move within the locker room. https://t.co/RY9UH8FizB
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) December 17, 2017
The Bucks will sign free agent Sean Kilpatrick to replace Payton, Haynes adds. Kilpatrick was waived by the Nets last week after they struck a trade with Philadelphia.
Milwaukee Bucks plan to sign guard Sean Kilpatrick, league sources tell ESPN. Brooklyn released him last week to make room for Jahlil Okafor trade.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) December 17, 2017
Milwaukee’s decision to waive Payton was largely due to the opportunity the team saw in bringing in Sean Kilpatrick, rather than any speculated disappointment the team had in Payton, according to the Journal Sentinel. Payton was well-liked by his teammates and by management.
Gary Payton ll will hit unrestricted free agency for the second time this year. He first latched on with the team in April before the start of the 2017 NBA Playoffs, and played 12 total games with the club this season.
Kilpatrick, 28, had a disappointing first month as a member of the Nets. After having a career-best season last year, he averaged 4.9 points and 11.4 minutes in 16 games this season, shooting just 29 percent from the floor.
