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Is Gary Payton Joining The Bucks Coaching Staff?

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Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

According to a recent article in the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, the Milwaukee Bucks could be considering former Sonic Gary Payton as a member of new coach Jason Kidd's staff. Payton and Kidd have a long history together, both growing up in the Bay Area. Payton has been spotted at Bucks practices and Summer League games and sat with Kidd in the stands recently.

From the sounds of it, it would appear Kidd reached out to Payton first. "I'm just seeing what kind of interest level he has in coaching at all, seeing where he's at," Kidd said Saturday. Payton played 34 games for the Bucks after being traded from the Sonics in 2003. Many fans were unhappy that he immediately bolted for the Los Angeles Lakers once he became a free agent. However, according to a poll on the Journal Sentinel's site, most fans would have no problem with Payton joining the bench.

Payton was Defensive Player of the Year in 1996 and was named to the All-NBA Defensive first team nine times. He was also a nine-time All-Star and is known as a hard worker. "His IQ, understanding talent and work ethic would be a positive," Kidd said. "You're talking about one of the best competitors in the game."

How do you think Coach Payton would fare? Would this be a good move by the Bucks?