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Elfrid Payton Is Destined To Play For The Cleveland Cavaliers

By Quenton S. Albertie

Dec 6, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) dribbles as Washington Wizards guard Trey Burke (33) defends during the second quarter at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) dribbles as Washington Wizards guard Trey Burke (33) defends during the second quarter at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 28, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) holds back Charlotte Hornets center Frank Kaminsky III (44) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Amway Center.The Hornets won 120-101. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) holds back Charlotte Hornets center Frank Kaminsky III (44) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Amway Center.The Hornets won 120-101. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Based on Windhorst’s report, the Orlando Magic are willing to trade Nikola Vucevic, who is the better player at this stage in his career, for young players and draft picks. They’d likely accept the same for Payton. In this case it would mean that the Cavs would have to depart with package that includes at least two of the following: Mike Dunleavy Jr., their first round pick, Jordan McRae and Cedi Osman.

Dunleavy Jr. would fit well within Frank Vogel’s offense, having played with the Indiana Pacers for five seasons with Vogel at the helm. Dunleavy Jr. would be a welcome shooter for a club whose small forwards shoot 33.3 percent from three-point range, or worse. This season, Dunleavy has made 35.1 percent of his shots from three-point range after struggling to find his stroke early on. Since losing his spot in the regular rotation, Dunleavy has shot at least 50.0 percent from three-point range in his last six games.

The Magic would likely also be intrigued by McRae and the Cleveland Cavaliers first-round pick. McRae is a volume shooter who hasn’t had a great season with the Cleveland Cavaliers but has shown flashes of being a solid rotation player in his NBA career with multiple games of 20 or more points. He was even considered to be Jamal Crawford-level scorer by the Cavs after his play during the NBA’s Summer League Circuit and the preseason.

Osman, who the Cavs won’t want to part with if they’ve already placed McRae and their first-rounder in the package, is a draft-and-stash player expected to make the NBA jump next season. This season, he’s already hit 48.8 percent of his threes in Euroleague action. He’s a player that can come over and instantly provide three-point shooting and energetic defense.

The Cleveland Cavaliers pick may be a low first-rounder, nonetheless, a team like the Magic could package the pick with their own first-round pick and a player like Vucevic as they try to acquire a young player with great potential to play on the perimeter.

The best part about a trade for Payton may be that the Cavs can help fill plenty of holes for the Magic. All it takes is a player they’re not even sure they want. Consider all the young point guard talent expected to be available early in the 2017 NBA Draft and the writing may already be on the wall for Payton and the Magic. The Cavs just need a fair trade package, which they can provide.

The Cleveland Cavaliers need a player like Payton. He’s a defensive-minded point guard who can finish around the rim. He also is very effective in getting others involved, boasting a career average of 6.3 assists per game.