SALT LAKE CITY – Gary Payton II slowly walked to the baseline at Delta Center after Wednesday morning’s shootaround, fully in character – smiling, laughing, stress-free. Payton knows the Golden State Warriors are exploring their options ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.

The most rumored name circulating around the Warriors leading up to the deadline was Bulls center Nikola Vucevic. He made some sense as a stretch center option, but ultimately the Warriors are sticking with their front court pieces of Draymond Green, Quinten Post, Kevon Looney and Trayce Jackson-Davis.

After acquiring Jimmy Butler, Golden State still has pieces to work with before Thursday’s deadline. Guard Gary Payton II and big man Kevon Looney represent more than $17 million of expiring contracts with which the Warriors could make another deal.