Orlando Magic Draft: Who stands to lose the most?

Elfrid Payton

But the Magic player who stands to lose most is Elfrid Payton.

Orlando’s starting point guard has demonstrated skill as a playmaker, but his inability to shoot, combined with poor defense, has placed his position under threat. Orlando has a number of point guard choices at the draft, including the highly lauded Dennis Smith Jr.

Despite his strong assist numbers, Payton has struggled to find consistency. And his poor shooting is often cited for the team’s poor spacing.

Of all the players currently on the roster, Payton is most likely whom the Magic trade. Even if Orlando only takes a point guard later in the draft, they will still be fighting Payton for minutes — and barring a sudden improvement on either the defensive end or with his shot, his position will continue to remain under threat. Only adding to the mystery and pressure is Payton’s restricted free agency in the summer of 2018.

Payton has shown flashes of ability, but he lacks the fundamental skills of a modern NBA point guard. It would be an incredible surprise for Orlando not to take a point guard at some point in this draft. And so Payton’s position is naturally called into question.

Next: Previewing the offseason with the NBA Front Office Show

Depending on the team’s draft night decisions, Payton’s time with the Magic may soon be coming to an end.