Orlando Magic Starting Five Breakdown: Elfrid Payton
By Luke Duffy
Verdict
Payton is in a good place here. His rookie season was verging on excellent given the team he landed with and the limitations to his game. The only real concern is that fans may think he can continue to grow at an accelerated pace, when it’s more likely that this could be a year in which his growth is slower. There’s no doubting he’s the best passer in his draft class, and it’s something that will become more evident as people tune in to watch this team.
But for now he’s the leader on the court of a motley crew of young talent and intriguing pieces. It’s not a bad spot to be in, pressure to succeed is still low while the options around him, particularly Oladipo and Vucevic, continue to get better. Seeing him develop a more successful pick and roll game with Vucevic would be nice as well, if only because it would complement both of their strengths well. Keep doing what you’re doing Elfrid.
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