Elfrid Payton was brought to New York as one of the targets chosen by general manager Scott Perry. Perry was instrumental in Magic by taking Payton with the tenth pick in the 2014 NBA draft during his tenure with the team as Vice President.
Payton has failed in his career, in part due to the fact that he has failed to develop an offensive and consistent game. He has always been a strong facilitator and director, and in New York he quickly conquered the starting point guard position.
Payton was solid and managed the offense well. However, his limits on offense were still striking, showing little improvement on that side of the ball when it enters its heyday at 26.
Given his lack of improvement and the Knicks’ desire to acquire a guard in the 2020 NBA project, Payton is likely to be pushed out the door with his partial $ 8 million guarantee refused.
The Knicks already have Frank Ntilikina, whom the team hopes will turn into a solid collaborator, and if they enlist another guard, Payton is the odd man in a crowded group of guards.