Phoenix Suns
While the second-rounder Phoenix is sending to Orlando seemed more valuable than your typical second round selection, few teams were as well suited to give one up as the Suns. The fact that it’s currently slated to be Charlotte’s second-rounder at No. 41 makes the deal even sweeter.
The reason? They might have had up to four selections in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft alone, and even a fanbase that’s trying to trust #TheTimeline would’ve been driven up the wall if Phoenix had actually used all four of those selections on more youngsters.
Phoenix had potentially four second-round draft picks this summer. Obviously didn't need all those so why not take a flier on Payton.
— scott bordow (@sbordow) February 8, 2018
The Suns still keep all three of their potential first-rounders (their own pick, the top-seven protected pick from the Miami Heat and a protected pick from the Milwaukee Bucks that’s unlikely to convey this year), and they get to take a chance on a young point guard who could use a change of scenery.
Magic fans know Payton well enough to tell you a new environment — particularly one featuring an even younger team — will do little to help, and maybe they’re right. The thing is, the Suns’ point guard situation can’t get much worse.
Nice thing with Elfrod Payton is that he could impress and be your answer at PG or show he’s quality backup so you can keep him and draft a PG. If he’s the answer, you can focus on center in draft.
— Espo (@Espo) February 8, 2018
No offense to Tyler Ulis, but Tyler Ulis is not a starting-caliber point guard in the NBA. He’s having a disastrous second season, averaging 6.8 points and 4.0 assists per game while shooting a putrid 37.7 percent from the field and 26 percent from 3-point range.
G League success story Mike James is long gone. Backup point guard Isaiah Canaan is done for the season after a horrific leg injury. G League call-up Josh Gray can hardly be expected to contribute much in a backup role. The situation had gotten so dire that Devin Booker was taking on a James Harden kind of role at the 1 (which isn’t as crazy as it sounds given his court vision and playmaking ability, but still).
The Suns now have a 2 month tryout on soon to be free agent Elfrid Payton. The point guard has a $3.3M cap hit and will be a restricted free agent if the Suns elect to tender him the $4.8M qualifying offer. Phoenix now has $6.9M in cap space and has... https://t.co/FdHPdERnTR
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 8, 2018
The fact that a 21-year-old 2-guard was the team’s best option at point guard placed a sense of urgency on finding a long-term solution in the draft or free agency this summer. With Booker, Canaan and Ulis all sidelined recently, that need was exacerbated. McDonough acted.
Elfrid Payton might not be the long-term solution this franchise is looking for. Though he’s shooting a more-than-respectable 52 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from 3-point range this season, he’s been a poor shooter throughout his career.
Pick-and-roll defenses don’t respect the threat of his jumper and his defense is a far cry from the reputation of “lockdown defender” he was supposed to build for himself.
Not really sure why people are so low on Elfrid Payton. He's had a BPM above zero in each of the last two seasons. He has an 18.2 PER this season. He's averaging 13 PTS, 6.3 AST, 4 REB & 1.5 STL (16.4 PTS, 7.9 AST, 5 REB & 1.8 STL per 36), with a 37.3 3P% this season.
— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) February 8, 2018
Still, he’s far better than any other option the Suns have available to them at the moment, averaging 13.0 points, 6.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game this year.
This buy-low trade lessens the burden on Booker to do everything and gives Phoenix an opportunity to take a flier on 23-year-old point guard who won’t be commanding any max offers this summer.
If he thrives alongside Booker and proves himself, perhaps the Suns can re-sign him to a fair deal. If not, they use him as a temporary stopgap to ease the load on Booker, cut Payton loose in free agency (or re-sign him to a cheap deal as a backup) and look to address their need for a franchise point guard in the draft or free agency.
Next: 2017-18 Week 17 NBA Power Rankings
Grade: A-