The Orlando Magic have traded starting point guard Elfrid Payton to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for a second-round pick (via the Memphis Grizzlies), according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Magic had been looking to flip Payton after years of inconsistencies and lack of development within the system.
The Suns have had a void at the point guard position since trading away starter Eric Bledsoe to the Milwaukee Bucks during the early stretch of the season. The organization had been hopeful to find a young playmaker to play alongside shooting guard Devin Booker, who has been sidelined with rib and hip issues during the last few games.
Booker has taken into a much more active playmaking role after Bledsoe's departure, which has shown in his overall game, now averaging 24.1 points, 4.9 assists, and 4.4 rebounds in his third season in the league.
Payton is a good-sized guard at 6-foot-4 with the ability to penetrate, run the fast break and make plays on the open court, averaging 13 points, 6.3 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game this season. The 23-year-old has made a major improvement in his 3-point shooting, reaching a 37.3 percent clip this season in limited attempts — an acumen that will prove helpful playing alongside this young Suns core.
The Louisiana native is also considered one of the best one-on-one defenders at the position and an excellent hound at the passing lanes, averaging 1.5 steals per game this season and 1.4 for his career.
The Suns favor from this trade immediately, while the Magic will have to hope the Grizzlies second-round pick converts into a future asset during this upcoming NBA Draft.
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