Elfrid Payton finally gets a hair cut?

[JCSunsfan]

I think Payton could be a good backup PG but given his age and how he's coming off of his rookie contract he's probably not ready to settle into that sort of position. I can live with him being retained, especially since he cut his hair, but I would hope the Suns wouldn't sign him for any more than 3 years and $20 million. If he's given a 4th year as a team option that would be fine. I think that might be a little much annually but since the cap has shot up mid-tier talent has either been grossly overpaid or underpaid around the league. The Mid Level Exception is now about $8.4 million annually when it was just over $5 million with the previous cap and it's due to rise this next season.

The only problem with this is that we have oodles of backup pg’s—Ulis, Shaq, Knight. We need a starter. If Payton can’t be the starter I guess I just don’t see the point.

A typical nba team carries three point guards—a starter and two bench players. Knight already has one of the bench slots locked up. There is nothing we or the Suns can do to change that. So you fill the starter job first. Spend your money there. If it’s a rookie (Doncic or Young), then you have to spend FA money on a big before a back up pg.

 

[pokerface]

The only problem with this is that we have oodles of backup pg’s—Ulis, Shaq, Knight. We need a starter. If Payton can’t be the starter I guess I just don’t see the point.

A typical nba team carries three point guards—a starter and two bench players. Knight already has one of the bench slots locked up. There is nothing we or the Suns can do to change that. So you fill the starter job first. Spend your money there. If it’s a rookie (Doncic or Young), then you have to spend FA money on a big before a back up pg.

That is a good point JC that we need starter material not more backups. But then again unless we want to blow our top 4 pick on a pg I don't know what starters are available. Even if we drafted Young could he start and maintain being a starter? Maybe...

 

[Hoop Head]

I don't think there are many options to add a starting PG that is that much better than Payton or Knight. The upside to having both is they are very different from one another so they can be used differently. Knight as a scorer and Payton as a facilitator. They could share some time together as well. I'd be surprised if the Suns kept Ulis next year. Shaq has an outside shot of making the roster also. The 3rd PG spot will most likely be taken by Shaq, Ulis, or Canaan. We'll see what happens but there aren't many quality PG's available in free agency this summer and as far as starting quality PG's in the draft there are only 2, maybe 3, in Doncic, Young, and Sexton. I'm not sure if Young or Sexton will be ready to start right away though.

 

[pokerface]

I don't think there are many options to add a starting PG that is that much better than Payton or Knight. The upside to having both is they are very different from one another so they can be used differently. Knight as a scorer and Payton as a facilitator. They could share some time together as well. I'd be surprised if the Suns kept Ulis next year. Shaq has an outside shot of making the roster also. The 3rd PG spot will most likely be taken by Shaq, Ulis, or Canaan. We'll see what happens but there aren't many quality PG's available in free agency this summer and as far as starting quality PG's in the draft there are only 2, maybe 3, in Doncic, Young, and Sexton. I'm not sure if Young or Sexton will be ready to start right away though.

Yeah Payton and Knight would be ok for a season or two together. Between them they 'might' be able to hold down the position at a half decent level.

I think about Doncic is while he's not a pure pg he has enough skill to hold his own at it while being productive in other ways. You get good passing and court vision while he also gives good shooting and even decent rebounds. Plus you can plug him in at pg, sg, or even some sf. But don't know what position he will be best at...If we got Doncic there would be a lot less need for Payton...money/capspace saved there.

 

[sunsfan88]

I don't think there are many options to add a starting PG that is that much better than Payton or Knight. The upside to having both is they are very different from one another so they can be used differently. Knight as a scorer and Payton as a facilitator. They could share some time together as well. I'd be surprised if the Suns kept Ulis next year. Shaq has an outside shot of making the roster also. The 3rd PG spot will most likely be taken by Shaq, Ulis, or Canaan. We'll see what happens but there aren't many quality PG's available in free agency this summer and as far as starting quality PG's in the draft there are only 2, maybe 3, in Doncic, Young, and Sexton. I'm not sure if Young or Sexton will be ready to start right away though.

Payton was horrific with the Suns. His game log shows a nightmarish tenure with the Suns especially in the last 2-3 weeks. Advanced stats wise he was bottom 10 player in the NBA post all Star break.

I don’t think Payton will be returning. And I think Knight will return only because his contract is so bad that it’s untradable without giving up assets to dump it.

Based on McD’s interviews and such, I would bet a large amount that Payton has played his last game with the Suns.

I disagree that there aren’t better PGs than Knight and Payton to add as well. A guy in the draft like Trae Young is better than both. A guy in free agency like Fred Van Vleet triumphs both. Kemba Walker could be acquired through a trade of maybe Warren/#16.

There are many options to upgrade from Knight/Payton.

 

[JCSunsfan]

There will be pg’s available in the draft later too that are more upperclassmen. Shai, Shake, and Landry Shamet might be more mature and ready to plug in. All would be a lot cheaper to keep than Elfrid.

 

[WildBB]

The one thing I did like about Payton is his ability to get the the hoop and finish. He can really open up the floor doing that. He obviously needs to recommit defensively. That was bad.

 

[Mainstreet]

The one thing I did like about Payton is his ability to get the the hoop and finish. He can really open up the floor doing that. He obviously needs to recommit defensively. That was bad.

Also Payton's passing is more than adequate. My questions are not about his ability.

Hopefully we will find out more in the coming days about his desire to stay with the Suns.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

There will be pg’s available in the draft later too that are more upperclassmen. Shai, Shake, and Landry Shamet might be more mature and ready to plug in. All would be a lot cheaper to keep than Elfrid.

Shai was a freshaman this year.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Shai was a freshaman this year.

correction noted.

 

[Errntknght]

A guy in free agency like Fred Van Vleet triumphs both. Kemba Walker could be acquired through a trade of maybe Warren/#16.
There are many options to upgrade from Knight/Payton.

Is Vanvleet an FA this year? Toronto likes him but they have Delon Wright(PG) who they also like so I wouldn't expect them to overpay to retain Vanvleet. I don't know Wright's contract status but he's just finished his 3rd season so he might be an FA, too. Wright is 6'5 to Vanvleet's 6'0 and is 1.5 years older. Their stats are very similar with Vv having the higher 3pt percentage but W has better FG%.
They both have good assist to TO ratio, which the Suns need. I've mentioned them a couple of times as likely candidates since the Raptors will likely have trouble retaining them both along with Lowry.
Vv was out for the first playoff game with an injury. Wright played 25 minutes, 7/10 from the field, 3/4 on threes, 3 ast, 4 TO's, 3 stl. People will notice him for that.
If neither of them are FA's I'd still pursue them via trade - Toronto would be smart to trade one before they hit free agency. Hopefully, Vanvleet is already there.

Chicago's Jerian Grant is another possibility. His stats are comparable, and also better than Dunn's, the Bulls starter. They have other young PGs but Grant is the best. The thing here is that Dunn is young, too, so Grant will want to get out from under him.

 

[sunsfan88]

Is Vanvleet an FA this year? Toronto likes him but they have Delon Wright(PG) who they also like so I wouldn't expect them to overpay to retain Vanvleet. I don't know Wright's contract status but he's just finished his 3rd season so he might be an FA, too. Wright is 6'5 to Vanvleet's 6'0 and is 1.5 years older. Their stats are very similar with Vv having the higher 3pt percentage but W has better FG%.
They both have good assist to TO ratio, which the Suns need. I've mentioned them a couple of times as likely candidates since the Raptors will likely have trouble retaining them both along with Lowry.
Vv was out for the first playoff game with an injury. Wright played 25 minutes, 7/10 from the field, 3/4 on threes, 3 ast, 4 TO's, 3 stl. People will notice him for that.
If neither of them are FA's I'd still pursue them via trade - Toronto would be smart to trade one before they hit free agency. Hopefully, Vanvleet is already there.

Chicago's Jerian Grant is another possibility. His stats are comparable, and also better than Dunn's, the Bulls starter. They have other young PGs but Grant is the best. The thing here is that Dunn is young, too, so Grant will want to get out from under him.

Vv is a free agent. He's a winning basketball player, he had one of the best +/- in the entire league. He knows how to command an offense and did a great job controlling the 2nd unit for Toronto. Wright is under contract for 2 more years.

I'm not a fan of Grant from the Bulls. Bit of a chucker and not efficient at all.

 

[Hoop Head]

The only PG from the Bulls I like is Kris Dunn. He had a poor rookie season but started showing some signs of turning it around this year. He'd be worth gambling on, IMO. Not sure if Chicago has any interest in either Bender or Chriss but I'd swap one of them for Dunn. Problem with that would be he's not ready to take over as a starting PG quite yet but he could be with the right coaching and a good offseason.

 

[leclerc]

Hopefully they can move some pieces and sign someone so we get a real NBA team around Booker and Jackson. I liked Payton as a person and as a player the first few games when he was aggressive. Don't know what's up. Hope he makes it somewhere.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

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Give the kid the max!!

 

[SirStefan32]

If they extend him, they need to find a way to write something about his hair into his contract.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

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Give the kid the max!!

A ray of hope!

 

[JCSunsfan]

I am interested to see what happens with him. For a few games there, he seemed like the answer for us at pg.

I wonder if the draft lottery had an impact on our free agents. If we ended up with Doncic, we see if we can keep Len cheap. If it’s Ayton we offer a reasonable deal to Elfrid.

 

[TJ]

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Give the kid the max!!

Thank God. Wonder what live things came out of his hair when they cut it.

 

[SirStefan32]

Good news is that Igor knows him as well, so he should be able to tell McD if he thinks he can develop him or not.

 

[WildBB]

Good news is that Igor knows him as well, so he should be able to tell McD if he thinks he can develop him or not.

He's quick.He can get to the rim and finish. He got unmotivated though. That should'nt happen in the NBA. Be thankful you have a spot there. And thanks for cutting the monstrosity!

 

[Superbone]

Now he needs to reengineer his shot without that obstruction.

 

[Chaplin]

Here's the big question--now that Payton has cut his hair, does that make him a more attractive option to at least give the qualifying offer?

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

He's quick.He can get to the rim and finish. He got unmotivated though. That should'nt happen in the NBA. Be thankful you have a spot there. And thanks for cutting the monstrosity!

ESPECIALLY considering he was a pending free agent. What more motivation does he need???

 

[SirStefan32]

Here's the big question--now that Payton has cut his hair, does that make him a more attractive option to at least give the qualifying offer?

I'd yield to Igor on that one. If he wants him, sure. If he'd rather have someone else, pass.