HoopsHype.com Rumors

“He said ‘I want to help you,’ ’’ Lillard said of Payton. “He said it would take time for me to become a defender, but he said I have everything to become one. So this will be the summer where I get in the gym with him and try to learn from him.’’ Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Gary Payton, Damian Lillard 

Tracy McGrady: Really excited to be playing with Gary Payton, Jason Williams and the pros in the NBA Legends Tour this June. Twitter @Real_T_Mac

San Antonio Spurs, Gary Payton, Tracy McGrady, Jason Williams 

Aquille Carr shocked many when he announced his intent to follow in the footsteps of Brandon Jennings by skipping college and beginning his pro career overseas, and while some questioned his decision, it’s now official: Carr has signed on to join Tracy McGrady, Jason Williams and Gary Payton on the NBA Legends Tour that will run for two weeks throughout the month of June in China. “I feel like a pro now,” Carr told SLAMonline of his signing in China. “This is a dream come true.” SLAM

Gary Payton, Tracy McGrady, Jason Williams, China, Aquille Carr 

Gary Payton, the first Heat player to make the Hall of Fame, hopes Alonzo Mourning can join him in Hall next yeaer. “I think there’s a great chance,’’ Payton said in a phone interview Wednesday with FOX Sports Florida. “I think it can happen and I think it should happen. He’s got great stats and he came back from the kidneys and stuff (a kidney disease that derailed Mourning’s career). I think he’ll be there, for sure.’’ Sulia

Miami Heat, Gary Payton, Alonzo Mourning, Hall of Fame 

Gary Payton, the first Heat player to make the Hall of Fame, hopes Alonzo Mourning can join him in Hall next yeaer. “I think there’s a great chance,’’ Payton said in a phone interview Wednesday with FOX Sports Florida. “I think it can happen and I think it should happen. He’s got great stats and he came back from the kidneys and stuff (a kidney disease that derailed Mourning’s career). I think he’ll be there, for sure.’’ Sulia

Gary Payton, Alonzo Mourning 

Jason Terry: Gotta say well deserved to my og the glove #HOF thanks for pavin the way town bizness Twitter @jasonterry31

Boston Celtics, Gary Payton, Hall of Fame, Jason Terry 

Haywood, 63, is one of 12 finalists, among them former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian and fellow Las Vegas resident and former NBA star guard Gary Payton. Speaking at the Discovery Children’s Museum, where his company installed the flooring and tiles in the bathrooms, Haywood talked candidly about his life — a life that was never about taking the safe route. “It was that kind of time in American sports,” said Haywood, referring to the early 1970s, during which Flood challenged baseball’s reserve clause and boxing great Muhammad Ali fought for his right to refuse induction into the U.S. Army and not have to fight in Vietnam. “Here’s the thing — I wasn’t looking for trouble. I just wanted to earn a living playing basketball. So when Seattle signed me (in 1970), and the NBA said I couldn’t play, I was angry. I couldn’t provide for my family. So I did what I had to do.” Las Vegas Review Journal

Gary Payton, Hall of Fame, Spencer Haywood 

"I think you should never anticipate going in unless you're Michael Jordan or John Stockton or Karl Malone or someone like that," he said. "I'm happy for everyone who got in." Among those who formally will be named for induction Monday is Gary Payton, who will become the first former Heat player to be enshrined in Springfield. Payton helped the Heat win the 2006 NBA title, also spending the following season with the team. "I'm happy for Gary," Hardaway said. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Michael Jordan, Gary Payton, Karl Malone, Hall of Fame, John Stockton, Tim Hardaway 

Give a big hand to the “The Glove." A source confirmed Thursday that Gary Payton will be named Monday to the Basketball Hall of Fame at the Final Four in Atlanta. The guard had his greatest seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics. However, he won his only NBA title with the Miami Heat in 2006, and could become the first former Heat player in the Hall of Fame at the Sept. 8 induction ceremonies. Former Miami star guard Tim Hardaway also is a finalist this year for election. FOXSports Florida

Gary Payton, Hall of Fame 

Scott Howard-Cooper: Gary Payton very excited yesterday after getting word he had been elected to the Hall of Fame. Official announcement coming Monday. Twitter @SHowardCooper

Gary Payton, Hall of Fame 

Chris Tomasson: Source says Gary Payton will indeed choose John Stockton and George Gervin as his presenters when inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sept. 8 Twitter @christomasson

Gary Payton, Hall of Fame, John Stockton 

So, Terry was asked, how could a guy trained by The Glove turn into such a fire-at-will offensive player instead of a defense-first guard? “I was (defensive-minded),” Terry said, breaking into a smile. “That’s how I made my name. In high school and at Arizona, I was a defensive stopper. Mike Bibby and those guys shot all the balls. My job was to lock people down. “But once I got to the NBA,” he added with a laugh, “that all changed. You’ve got to score in this league to have success. “But Gary’s just been an inspiration in my life. I still talk to him. He’s just been tremendous for me.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Gary Payton, Jason Terry 

Therefore, one reporter asked Payton about David Falk's recent criticism that Wall will never be a franchise player. Wizards Extreme caught the exchange on video: "I disagree with that. We talked today, we talked yesterday when I first got here. I told him a lot of things that he needed to work on this summer. He's on board. He's going to be with me. So I don't care about that," Payton said. Then, Payton said something that should resonate with many here. "The guy reminds me of myself. He's very long. He can score. He's got a good knack for the basketball. He just needs somebody that can teach him how to play defense," he said. Bullets Forever

Washington Wizards, John Wall, Gary Payton 

With the future of the Sacramento Kings in question and the possibility of a Sonics return to Seattle, Mitch Richmond and Gary Payton find themselves in a precarious position. By this time next year, Payton’s No. 20 could be hanging in the rafters of KeyArena, while Richmond’s No. 2 banner might be locked away in storage somewhere in Sacramento. In retirement, they are the closest of friends. The two sat next to each other as they were announced as finalists for this year’s hall of fame class on Friday. The two acknowledge it’s a bizarre situation they are in as the cities they once called home jockey for position in the fight for the Kings. “Yeah, we talked about that,” Richmond told Cowbell Kingdom of his hopes that the Kings stay in Sacramento juxtaposed to Payton’s desire to bring back the Sonics. “He wants his jersey up and I don’t want my jersey down. So I think it’s a little bit combination of both.” Cowbell Kingdom

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Gary Payton, Hall of Fame, Mitch Richmond 

Regardless of the outcome, the two friends and former foes that represent the best of Sacramento and Seattle’s storied basketball histories hope that a resolution comes soon. If anything, for the sake of closure for two proud fanbases. “They’ve been going through some mixed emotions,” Richmond said of the ordeal Kings fans have experienced these last two years. ”But hopefully, you know it all works out. Going through some tough times right now, but hopefully they can continue to keep that team, build them a new arena, get the city back excited again and go from there.” Cowbell Kingdom

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Gary Payton, Hall of Fame, Mitch Richmond 

He sees himself as an assistant general manager with a strong voice in personnel decisions – as if the legendary trash talker could have any other kind – and not some famous figurehead with a ceremonial role. (There is no interest in coach.) More than anything, though, Payton sees himself getting back into the NBA after being retired since 2007 following a career as a dominant two-way point guard who would further turn opponents into scorched Earth with his words on the court. “I would rather be an assistant,” he said. “Right now, you’ve got to work at being a GM. You’ve got to learn a lot. You’ve got take your lumps. I think I would rather take my lumps and be behind somebody and learn it and get taught the right way to do it and then in a couple of years be that type of person.” And the conversations with Hansen? “I talk to Chris all the time,” Payton said, adding: “He knows. He’s already knowing anyway that he would want me to be a part of the team anyway. I’ve been with Chris and talked to Chris for a long time.” NBA.com

Seattle SuperSonics, Gary Payton 

Gary Payton tells me he has had conversations with Chris Hansen about joining the front office if Seattle gets... the Kings next season. Sulia

Seattle SuperSonics, Gary Payton 

The Glove said he does not expect to be general manager, but thinks he could step in as an assistant GM. "He knows," Payton said. "... He would want me to be a part of the team." Sulia

Seattle SuperSonics, Gary Payton 

Mitch Richmond on his conversation with friend & former Sonic Gary Payton on #SacKings/Seattle situation: Richmond has been named a finalist to the hall of fame along with Payton. The two, who are close friends, have talked about the possibility of Richmond's old team becoming Payton's if the Kings move to Seattle. "Yeah, we talked about that. He wants his jersey up and I don't want my jersey down. So I think it's a little bit combination of both. But hopefully, Sacramento works something out (so) that they can continue to keep the team." Sulia

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Gary Payton, Hall of Fame, Mitch Richmond 

David Aldridge: Very interesting interview w/HOF finalist Gary Payton that will run today on @NBATV. Asked who reminds him of himself, he said John Wall. Twitter @daldridgetnt

Washington Wizards, John Wall, Gary Payton