The Phoenix Suns should re-sign Elfrid Payton as a backup
By Adam Maynes
The Phoenix Suns have a deficit at point guard right now. Even if they draft a player like Luka Doncic, Elfrid Payton should return next season – at the right price.
Elfrid Payton came to the Phoenix Suns from the Orlando Magic for a basket of baseballs. Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough basically acquired Payton and 3-point sniper Troy Daniels for free, bolstering the backcourt for the short term, getting the franchise through the intentionally tanked 2017-18 season.
Payton’s initial success made a lot of fans super excited about the potential that he could have been a diamond in the rough find and that a change of scenery would resurrect the former lottery-pick’s career. Over his first nine games, Payton recorded two triple-doubles while nearly missing two others, averaging 16.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and a decent 47.9% field goal percentage. Granted, the team finished 1-8 over that stretch, but the individual statistical output (minus his god-awful 3-point shooting), was more than enough to warrant such thoughts that this was more than him just over-achieving.
Phoenix Suns
And then he came back down to earth.
Not only were his statistics NOWHERE NEAR where they had been over his final ten games, but he only reached double-figures in scoring four times, and a combined zero double-figure outputs in either assists or rebounds. Over that stretch, he averaged 7.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and shot a percentage from beyond the arc that would even make Shaquille O’Neal blush: 9.1%.
Truth-be-told, he sucked. Buttermilk.
However, the Suns are in need of point guards, and Payton can be a guy who on (apparently) random nights, can fill up the stat sheet helping a team win – so long as his statistical output is not counted on in any way.
Therefore, he should be retained and brought back – as a backup.
There is a very good chance that much like Alex Len last offseason, Elfrid Payton will find zero suitors for his services this summer, in which case he will have to hold out for one of the worst teams in the league with a need at point guard to give him a call.
Who is the worst team in the league who needs a point guard?
That’s right: the Phoenix Suns.
Now, the Suns should be improved at point guard this coming season with the return of Brandon Knight, the presumption that they will seek out a point guard in the draft, hopefully the acquisition of a veteran (anybody interested in Tyreke Evans? I know I am!) and still the possible returns of Tyler Ulis and Shaquille Harrison. Elfrid Payton is not likely to be a necessity for the Suns, although still a player who they might have some interest in retaining.
In my opinion, the right price for Payton would be a one-year deal at about $5M. Nothing long-term, nothing that will really hamper McDonough’s ability to acquire other pieces, and certainly a contractual number that would be easily tradable at the deadline should a contract(s) be needed to help match returning salaries.
I am not looking to Payton to start, nor am I offering this option with an false visions of revival for Payton’s career. But Elfrid already knows the games of the key pieces on the roster and thus the learning curve would be short, he is a veteran (albeit one without any playoff experience), he is widely believed to be a nice kid who is very respectful and professional (although his appearing to quit on defense likely played a central role in his being inactive for the team’s final seven games), and would likely be willing to return to backup Brandon Knight as he is unlikely to find a starting position elsewhere in the NBA.
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If Payton is willing to accept a small one-year “prove-it” deal, as well as a backup role, then there is no reason why he shouldn’t be re-signed, and at least help bridge the gap until a better point guard somewhere down the line can be found.
Oh, and they should also stipulate that he finally gets a hair cut.