Milwaukee Bucks: Gary Payton II 2016-17 season grades

Apr 2, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Payton II (0) guards Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea (5) in the third quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Payton II (0) guards Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea (5) in the third quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
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Apr 2, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Payton II (0) guards Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea (5) in the third quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Payton II (0) guards Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea (5) in the third quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Milwaukee Bucks have officially begun their offseason, and that means understanding what they have before they identify what they need. How does their latest addition, Gary Payton II, grade out based on his 2016-17 performance?

The Milwaukee Bucks put together a surprisingly strong season that culminated in a playoff run, but now that the games are over they have to look to the future. With the NBA Draft just six weeks away and the start of free agency just beyond that, the time is now to evaluate the talent currently on the roster.

For both the Bucks’ front office and its fans, it’s a valuable exercise to look closely at the players and ask questions. What were their expectations coming into the season, and how did they stack up? Did they show major improvement — and is there hope of more growth to come? Will this player be a valuable asset to keep in the organization?

That first question is the place to begin, looking closely at how players did this season when matched up to expectations. While Giannis Antetokounmpo clearly performed better overall than Rashad Vaughn, how did each player’s performance align with expectations?

While there isn’t always a large sample of work to analyze, each player on the roster made it onto the court in some fashion. While the rotation was pulled tight in the postseason, the players on the back end of the roster still hold value.

That includes the the team’s latest addition, former Oregon State Beaver Gary Payton II. How did he find his way to Milwaukee, and how did he perform this season?