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Could Orlando’s Elfrid Payton be Toast of 2014 Rookie Class?

By Brett David Roberts

Feb 11, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) during an NBA basketball game at Amway Center. The Orlando Magic defeated the New York Knicks 89-83. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) during an NBA basketball game at Amway Center. The Orlando Magic defeated the New York Knicks 89-83. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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While the initial question may regard as to whether Payton is better than Wiggins or Parker, the overall theme is that the Magic most certainly obtained one of the best players in the 2014 class with the No. 10 overall player from it.

That is not outlandish.

Parker has spent the majority of the season on the injured list, removing him from this year’s Rookie of the Year discussion. Andrew Wiggins is the heavy frontrunner and has shown big-game ability, even going toe to toe with LeBron James earlier this season.

But Payton has not had the exposure nor hype that Wiggins has, and he is also facing an entirely different task as the floor general of a team trying to establish itself as a unit in the NBA.

Wiggins is the best prospect on another bad team in Minnesota, and he is going to have a great career. His future as a long-time All-Star seems nearly certain, but the same statement can be made about Payton. If his learning curve continues at its current rate, he’s going to be one of the best distributors in the league.

With 7.4 assists per-36 minutes, he is on his way.

The figure would be inflated if not for the fact his teammates have blown a number of should-be assists, not to mention the number of three-point plays that turned into two free throws due to blown looks at the rim. According to NBA.com, Payton averages 11.5 assist opportunities per game and 13.3 points created by assists per game — 22.8 per 36 minutes.

Elfrid Payton, Orlando Magic, Dallas Mavericks, Jameer Nelson
Oct 24, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) dribbles the ball as Dallas Mavericks guard Jameer Nelson (14) chases during the second half at Amway Center. The Mavericks won 117-92. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Those assist opportunities rank in the middle of the NBA, right behind Rajon Rondo‘s Dallas tenure.

He is not playing with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen as the rookie Rajon Rondo did, and that has to be taken into consideration. As this Magic team grows together and improves, the ball movement will too.

Payton is already keeping the offense flowing better as he has developed, and his ability to keep his dribble through traffic is on par with the greats in the league right now. At times when we naturally sit forward on our seats fearing a turnover, Payton is composed and finds the right man, makes the right play.

While his jump shot is a work in progress, he is effective at getting the shots he needs to take in order to score. He does not force.

Payton averages just 7.8 attempts per game and shoots just 42.5 percent, but he has shown a better floater in the last batch of Magic games, and he is good at getting into the paint area to use it. There is no three-point shooting to speak of, and that is because he is always been so good at creating that he has not had to rely on having a jumper.

Things like that go to the wind in the NBA, because every one is so good that players cannot just be jumper deficient.

Payton will put in the work and become a passable shooter, but in the meantime it is his defense and his impact on that end of the court that has the Magic beginning to show signs of life.

Next: Payton in the ROY race