2. Elfrid Payton
New Orleans’ acquisition of Elfrid Payton was met with little fanfare around the league.
A four-year pro, he’s done little to improve on the skill-set that made him a top-10 pick back in 2014. He shows some talent at times, but with a career 61.9 free throw percentage and a 29.8 percent conversion rate from deep, Payton’s an incredible liability on the offensive end.
Luckily for the Pelicans, they brought him in on a simple one-year deal worth only $3 million, which obviously won’t put a strain on their salary cap. However, given his track record, Payton isn’t likely to contribute consistently enough to warrant a spot on the roster, which could lead to a potential trade to a team looking to acquire an expiring contract.
Such a deal may not be for anything of real value, but New Orleans could see it as a possible addition by subtraction move, getting rid of a player who just can’t seem to put it all together on the court.