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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 20, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) dribbles the ball against the Miami Heat during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) dribbles the ball against the Miami Heat during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

First, when talking about Payton, his defensive tenacity and versatility is what the Cleveland Cavaliers need. Often faced with putting Iman Shumpert on the opposing point guards, the wing players end up matched up with Richard Jefferson. As evidenced by his Christmas Day antics, Jefferson has retained more athleticism than your typical elder statesman.

Nonetheless, keeping Jefferson against small forwards would bode well for a 36-year-old veteran because forwards typically are less dynamic players than those in the backcourt both physically and in terms of their skillset.

Within the Cleveland Cavaliers second unit, Payton is a terrific fit offensively as well as the bench is full of catch-and-shoot specialists in need of a player to set them up and take advantage of the space they offer with their three-point shooting. Converting his shots around the rim at a 61.3 percent rate, Payton is in a great position to do that.

In lineups with the Big Three, with Kyrie Irving shifting to the shooting guard role, he’s a necessary component for the Cavs to give the Big Three in-game rest. Not only can Irving and LeBron James sit when Payton is in, as the young floor general commands the second unit offense with energy and grace, they’ll be set up for easy shots themselves as Payton finds them with passes that seem to float but are lightning bolts that strike with precision.

Whether or not Payton is a point guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers by the trade deadline, the Orlando Magic have a player in Payton who can be exactly the type of player the Cavs need. Last year, the Cavs took Channing Frye off the Magic’s hands in a move that let the latter shed salary and eventually sign Biyombo in the summer. The Magic will want more in this deal and with what the Cavs can offer on terms of perimeter shooting and young assets, more is what they’ll get in a trade with Cleveland.

Related Story: Should The Cavs Guarantee The Contracts Of Jordan McRae And DeAndre Liggins?

Is Elfrid Payton a point guard that the Cleveland Cavaliers should target? Let us know your opinion in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA.