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Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Volume 23: Draft to the Future!

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 13, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) looks to pass the ball over Sacramento Kings guard Darren Collison (7) during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) looks to pass the ball over Sacramento Kings guard Darren Collison (7) during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Elfrid Payton, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards
Mar 5, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) dribbles as Washington Wizards forward Otto Porter Jr. (22) defends during the second half at Verizon Center. The Washington Wizards won 115-114. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

I guess that last question leads to this inevitable question, doesn’t it?

If the Orlando Magic are in the market for a point guard in the upcoming NBA Draft at No. 6 that surely means the days are numbered for Elfrid Payton. There is no getting around this.

Ask most Magic fans and observers, and they would probably agree with the last question –point guard is a position of huge need. Orlando has a lot of solid players. But inconsistency at point guard and Payton’s lack of shooting has held the team back.

I am not quite sold on that narrative. Payton has a lot of shortcomings. He may not be the long-term answer at point guard, but he has proven himself more than a solid option.

I have long said this thing about Nikola Vucevic — and I believe the same holds true for Elfrid Payton. Nikola Vucevic is a solid center option at a position that is hard to fill — just ask the Orlando Magic from 1996 until 2005. You hold onto that until a better option comes along.

That is where Payton is at. He is a solid option. Someone you hold onto until a better option comes around.

That better option may very well come in the Draft. And valuing Payton as he enters extension talks this summer and potentially restricted free agency next summer is pretty hard at this point.

So to answer the question, I must remain coy.

I think even if the Magic draft a point guard like Dennis Smith with the sixth overall pick, they will keep Payton for some “veteran” stability. And likely because his trade value may increase closer to the trade deadline than it would not at the Draft.

As with all deals, it really depends on who the Magic can get in return. I am never in favor of trading a guy just to trade a guy. There are times you have to do it just to get something for an asset you do not intend on retaining. But generally, there is a reason every player is in the NBA, and they should not be so easily discarded.

And so unless a good deal comes along for Payton, I do not think the Magic should just out and out trade Payton.

For now, I believe Payton’s trade value is too mysterious. I am not sure the team will get that great deal. And if the team has intentions of winning, Payton would help more immediately than a rookie — for now.

So I will say Payton starts the year on the Magic. But he probably does not end the year with the Magic.