Orlando Magic: Elfrid Payton Has Arrived

In case you’ve been living under a rock (Or just exclusively watching Russell Westbrook play basketball, which is actually acceptable) you’ll know that Orlando Magic rookie Elfrid Payton has made quite the impression over the last week or so.

His play has been on an even keel for much of the season, with the young man appearing at least to never get too high or too low no matter how he was playing.

A Rookie of the Year candidate? Sure, but the general feeling was the he lagged behind the likes of Nerlens Noel and Andrew Wiggins and their fancier numbers. Then he went and broke out not one, but two, triple-double performances, which in turn made the Magic’s once distant bright future seem a lot closer.

His back to back brilliant games also came against Western Conference playoff hopefuls in the Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers. In doing so, he became the first Magic player to ever achieve this feat, and the seventh rookie in league history to do so. Quite something when you consider some of the dominant players who have donned the pinstriped blue.

Here’s what I find most impressive about the performances though. First of all, I’m not entirely surprised. This guy has slowly, and quietly, gotten better as the season has gone on. His mix of vision, length and defensive ability means he contributes in a number of ways. His even statistical numbers, and in turn those triple-doubles, only reinforces this.

Secondly, and to me this is the most exciting part, Payton has achieved this feat despite the fact he has largely an old man’s game already. Consider his backcourt partner, Victor Oladipo. Dude can jump out of the gym and has a nice offensive game to match. He gets to the cup pretty often. His triple-double against the Philadelphia 76ers last year was also pretty memorable.

I’m taking nothing away from Oladipo’s feat then, but Payton achieved his in a different way. He’s not as athletic as his partner, nor does he have nearly the same offensive arsenal. So to do what he did was pretty amazing. He is just such a smart player.

He knows when to make the pass, make the extra pass and restart a possession, and this has all come in a somewhat turbulent rookie campaign for him.

It’s just great to see, and I really didn’t think we’d be seeing this sort of stuff this early in his career. I might be going out on a limb here, and it is such early days, but he could be the most consistent player to come out of the 2014 draft. Not the best, or the one most likely to turn a franchise around himself. But the guy who plays 15 years and stays at the top for a while.

His smarts and the way he plays make me feel confident enough in saying that.

Let’s look at the present, and the bigger picture surrounding it. These performances will have given him all the confidence in the world. We always knew he could pass, but now he’s scoring more consistently in different ways. My personal favorite from his first triple-double was his difficult shot over LaMarcus Aldridge off the glass and in for a nice two points.

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But it’s the way he plays. For the continued growth of this team, it just fits in so perfectly. Along with Oladipo he’s already a great defender in this league, and will only get better. The similarities end there however. As I’ve noted above their games are totally different but fit together so well.

You add center Nikola Vucevic to the mix, a walking double-double, and suddenly the next year or two becomes very interesting indeed.

In fact, I think it’s getting to the point now where you could call this team the best up and coming franchise in the league. The Milwaukee Bucks could certainly claim that title as well, and they look to be headed to the playoffs. But if the Magic can keep hold of Tobias Harris, not a certainty at all, and draft well again this summer, they are in such a healthy position.

It’s at this point we need to stop and give a bit of credit to general manager Rob Hennigan. The 32 year old has made some puzzling decisions before (Adding Ben Gordon to the team) but he’s also helped this team draft well and pay a fair price in keeping Vucevic long term as well. All of this, and we haven’t even spoken about fellow rookie Aaron Gordon.

He’s struggled with injury this season and this is Payton’s moment right now, but he’ll become more important to this team in time.

So yeah, I’m excited about where this team is at right now. For so long we have spoken about what’s around the corner and the future of the team. The Payton goes and blows up like that and it reminds up that the future is actually closer than we think. This season will finish with more losses than wins, but this core is together for the long term and learning all the time.

That’s dangerous for other teams. It’s also bad news for a struggling Atlanta Hawks side who meet Orlando Wednesday and have lost three straight for the first time this season. Don’t be surprised if Payton again influences a Magic win, as he continues to quickly get noticed in the league.

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