Phoenix Suns welcome Elfrid Payton to the team

After acquiring Elfrid Payton from the Orlando Magic at the 2018 NBA Trade Deadline, the Phoenix Suns welcomed him to the team Saturday.

With the Phoenix Suns in dire need of help at the point guard position, general manager Ryan McDonough swooped in at the 2018 NBA Trade Deadline, taking advantage of a tight market with a low-risk, high-reward play.

Acquiring Elfrid Payton from the Orlando Magic for the mere cost of a 2018 second round pick (the second-most valuable among three second-rounders), the Suns addressed a glaring hole on the roster, buying low on a long, 23-year-old point guard who will have two months to prove himself as a key piece moving forward.

As the Suns prepared to face the Denver Nuggets at home Saturday, they welcomed Payton, who said he’s happy to be “somewhere he’s wanted.” Though he suspected a trade from Orlando might be coming and wanted to see his time through there, Payton looks forward to a new challenge in Phoenix.

"“I’m somebody that likes to finish what I start, so that was a little disappointing, but I’m definitely excited to come over here and play for the Suns,” Payton said."

Phoenix had been tracking Payton for quite some time. The Suns held two workouts — one public, one private — with him prior to the 2014 NBA Draft and were interested in taking the young point guard out of Louisiana Lafayette, but he was scooped up with the 10th overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Sixers traded him to the Magic on draft day and the Suns took Payton’s good friend, T.J. Warren, four picks later. McDonough is perfectly happy with how Warren has worked out, but is now excited at the prospect of seeing what Payton can do on this young team.

"“He’s a guy we really liked and I think will help us a great deal on the floor,” McDonough said. “Obviously he’s in the last year of his contract, but we have potential interest beyond this year as well. We’ll see how the last 25-30 games go, but we’ve had a glaring need at the point guard spot.”"

Saying Phoenix needed help at the 1 is an understatement. Eric Bledsoe was traded three games into the season. G League success story Mike James is long gone. Isaiah Canaan is out for the season after suffering a horrific leg injury.

That’s left the Suns with Tyler Ulis, who has been horrendous in his second season, averaging 6.8 points and 4.0 assists per game on .377/.260/.806 shooting splits, and G League call-up Josh Gray, who’s currently playing on a 10-day contract.

The situation had gotten so dire in recent weeks that interim head coach Jay Triano opted to start the team’s best playmaker, Devin Booker, at the 1. Booker’s ceiling and playing style might be closer to that of a James Harden than a spot-up shooter like Klay Thompson, but when your best option at point guard is your 21-year-old shooting guard, something had to give.

"“It just seems like we’re kind of snakebitten there,” McDonough said. “So we were evaluating Elfrid, and we know his game pretty well from having studied him so closely in the draft and the three and a half years he played for the Magic. We just think he’ll be a great fit. We need a guy who does what he can do, and what I mean by that is a bigger point guard with size and length, good athleticism, and he’s a very good finisher around the basket.”"

The arrival of Payton should ease the burden on Booker to both score and create for one of the worst-spaced offenses in the league. The Suns will continue to give Book time to hone his playmaking skills at the 1, but Payton’s game should mesh well with their phenom 2-guard.

"“I see it working out well [with Booker],” Payton said. “He’s a great talent who can really shoot it. I’m somebody that likes to get into the paint and find open teammates, so I think it’ll work really well.”"

This season, Payton is averaging a career-high 13.0 points, 6.3 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 per game. Though he’s pegged as a non-shooter, he’s shooting 52 percent from the floor and 37.3 percent from the 3-point line. He’s only made 25 3-pointers this season, sure, but the Suns don’t need Payton to take a bunch of shots from downtown, as long as he’s somewhat efficient when he does.

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If Payton can get into the teeth of defenses and make life easier on the Suns’ star shooting guard by providing open looks and by easing Booker’s burden as the team’s de factor point guard, he’ll be more than worth that second round pick — even as a potential two-month rental.

Conversely, Payton never played with a scorer or shooter of Booker’s caliber in Orlando, which means there might not be as much pressure for him to shoot from the perimeter as long as he’s efficient with those limited looks.

Because he hasn’t lived up to his billing as a lockdown defender, Payton must also prove his worth on that end for the league’s 30th-ranked defense. He’s ranked 71st out of 99 point guards in Defensive Real Plus-Minus per ESPN, and according to NBA.com, the Magic were 9.7 points per 100 possessions stingier on defense when Payton was off the court.

However, the Suns are optimistic the tools are there, and will be monitoring that end of the floor for the next two months.

"“He’s got a lot of potential with his size and length,” McDonough said. “Like most young players, like most of our team, I think there’s room for growth there, but he’s got the physical tools and he’s got the mentality to do it. He’s motivated and we’re motivated to see what he can do.”"

As of now, it appears both Elfrid Payton and the Suns are approaching this two-month trial period with cautious optimism, but also realism. In a loaded 2018 NBA Draft, where Phoenix lands in the pecking order and what kind of prospect they take (i.e. point guard or center) may have a hand in determining his long-term future with the team.

It’s also worth noting that even though Payton is a restricted free agent this summer and the Suns can match any potential offer, his $10 million cap hold would make it difficult to chase any realistic free agent targets like Clint Capela. Renouncing his rights altogether might be preferable to re-signing him, even if it’s to a discount in a tighter market.

Next: Biggest winners and losers of the 2018 NBA Trade Deadline

For now though, the Phoenix Suns settle for an alternative to the inconsistent Ulis and putting too much wear and tear on their franchise star for the rest of the 2017-18 season.