PORTLAND, Ore. -- Gary Payton insists it wasn't personal, but he is definitely glad to be out of Seattle and rid of SuperSonics management.

At a news conference before his Milwaukee Bucks debut against the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night, Payton was not shy about hiding his feelings for Sonics owner Howard Schultz, who made a veiled comment about Payton's leadership following Thursday's trade between Seattle and Milwaukee.

"He just talks, that's all he does," Payton said. "He just took over that team a year ago and now he knows everything about basketball.

"I really don't think he knows anything about basketball."

Following the trade that sent Payton and Desmond Mason to the Bucks in exchange for Ray Allen, Kevin Ollie, Ronald Murray and a conditional 2003 draft pick, Schultz remarked that the Sonics now have a leader in Allen, implying Payton was not.

Payton, who found out about the trade through the media, repeatedly insisted there was no personal animosity toward the Seattle organization. However, he was also highly critical of the SuperSonics.

"That's just the way that organization works," he said of Seattle's handling of the trade. "I wasn't putting anything past the Sonics people. I knew they weren't going to come to me and tell me. They made it personal, so we just had to make it personal back."

Payton did make it clear he appreciated the support of Seattle's fans.

"It had nothing to do with the Seattle community, the fans of Seattle," he said. "They're great. It's all about the organization."

Payton comes to a Milwaukee team that has lost four in a row, including Friday night's defeat at Seattle when it set a franchise low with 58 points.

"It's always strange to put a different uniform on," Payton said. "But George Karl has been my coach for seven, eight years. I'm glad it's him."

Karl coached Seattle and Payton from 1991-98, a run that included a trip to the NBA Finals in 1996 when Seattle lost to the Chicago Bulls.

Payton's averages of 20.8 points and 8.8 assists per game are better than any other Milwaukee player. His 4.8 rebounding average is fourth-best on the team.

"I can't come in here and be stiff and be on my tippy toes," he said. "I've just got to play basketball."

Payton did not rule out re-signing with the Bucks -- if the team makes a playoff run.

"I can be comfortable anywhere. As long as I'm with my wife and kids, I'm good," he said. "If Milwaukee goes to the conference finals, you have to look at that as a possibility, as a big possibility, to come back. I'm not going to miss a chance to win a championship."

He did say a return to Seattle was unlikely.

"I don't think so," Payton said.