2016-17 Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Elfrid Payton

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Feb 23, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) passes under pressure from Portland Trail Blazers guard Shabazz Napier (6) during the fourth quarter at Amway Center. The Trail Blazers won 112-103. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

The Orlando Magic invested a lot in Elfrid Payton for the last few years, hoping he would take the next step. Like everyone else, he struggled to find a fit.

The NBA changed seemingly overnight. Or perhaps the 2017 season was the deluge of a trend that had been growing more and more the last few years.

Point guards ruled the day. Shooting was its greatest weapon. And offenses were about to explode in a way they had not in a long time in the NBA.

The league’s long-time rule changes for freedom of movement have seemingly finally peaked. Point guards now ruled everything as the floor became spread and their ability to dictate an offense became greater. It does not seem a team can win very much in the NBA without locking down the point guard position with someone who can control the tempo like this.

It is the ultimate weapon in the modern NBA. Look at the worst teams in the league, and many will have questions at point guard.

And so a lot of the Orlando Magic’s success or failure in the 2017 season would rely on whether Elfrid Payton could bounce back from a somewhat sluggish sophomore season. Through all the changes the Magic made to shift their lineup, Payton was the one guy the team still had to believe in.

After all, the reports were then-coach Scott Skiles and general manager Rob Hennigan clashed over Payton and his place in the modern NBA. The debate of whether he could truly be a franchise point guard would rage on.

At times, Payton does look like that. He can score in bunches and attack the basket and create for others. At times, Payton is exactly what a team does not need in a point guard — stagnant and unable to create his own shot on the perimeter.

The reality, like so many other things in the 2017 season, is we are no closer to an answer when it comes to Payton.

Before the All-Star Break, Payton struggled to find the space he needed. Bigs clogged the paint and there was no shooting to discourage defenses from collapsing around him. He took a lot more jumpers and teams were happy to give them.

After the All-Star Break, space opened up and Payton was able to attack much more effectively. It seemed to unlock everything Payton could be as he got to the rim more and was the engine for the team.

It is clear which style Payton prefers. And that appears to be the style the Magic will play moving forward.

But the questions for Payton remains. He both can control the pace of a game and take advantage of all the new rules that benefit point guard and he also cannot because of that troublesome jumper.

And with a new general manager coming into place, Payton has more to prove than anyone that he can be that point guard of the future even more.