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Pelicans Have To Make Elfrid Payton Decision

New Orleans Pelicans guard Elfrid Payton (22) dribbles the ball

Thanks to Elfrid Payton’s storybook NBA comeback, the New Orleans Pelicans have gone from a team without any viable point guards to one with one too many in short order.

Dejounte Murray will likely reassume his duties as the team’s starting point guard on Wednesday as he returns from his hand injury. After posting a double-double with 10 assists in his team debut, Murray may have reminded some fans about his ability to facilitate after spending the past two seasons beside All-Star point guard Trae Young in the Atlanta Hawks backcourt. With that said, Murray’s role isn’t to just be a playmaker but a scorer, particularly in the clutch. That’s what differentiates him from not just Payton but Jose Alvarado.

However, there’s where it gets interesting for the Pelicans. Between Payton —who just set a career and the NBA’s season-high for assists (21) —and Alvarado, who’s more useful to the rotation?

Pelicans Have To Make Elfrid Payton Decision

Payton’s impact in New Orleans is simple.

He’s a true point guard who pushes the pace and is capable of making all of the passes. On a team such as the Pelicans, whose personnel lends itself to rim runs, transition play, and small-ball, Payton’s passing prowess is particularly important. If New Orleans had more reliable three-point threats, it would be all but imperative for the 30-year-old to be in the rotation moving forward.

Unfortunately for Payton, he has a glaring weakness at both ends of the court.

On offense, he’s not only a great at dishing dimes but getting to his floater. The problem is that Payton has never been much of a three-point shooter. Teams can survive and work around that, but it’s not their preference. On defense, Payton’s 6-foot-8 wingspan is a useful tool, especially when he’s playing passing lanes. Nonetheless, it doesn’t help him stay in front of his man.

This is why, when he returns from his hamstring injury, Alvarado still has to be in the rotation.

Alvarado’s a respectable playmaker, an even better three-point threat, and the cream of the crop defensively. This season, the New York native has averaged 10.7 points and 4.5 assists per game on 40.0 percent shooting from three, all career-highs. An intense on-ball defender with a penchant for pickpocketing his opponents, he’s also averaging a career-high 1.5 steals per game.

He’s another player who performed so well the Pelicans were forced to embrace him. So, what does New Orleans do?

What Should The Pelicans Do?

In a perfect world, the Pelicans would be able to play Murray, Alvarado, and Payton.

At the very least, Murray and Alvarado should be expected to remain in the rotation, not just because of the pre-established pecking order but the franchise’s investment in them. New Orleans traded multiple first round picks and a player they recently selected in the lottery to acquire Murray. Alvarado signed a contract extension in September.

Payton may be pushing for a rotation spot, but the point guards who are presumably in front of him on the depth chart have a recent body of work that overshadows his. So, if he does want to get regular playing time, the first order of business is remaining consistent. It might be unrealistic to suddenly expect him to become a sharpshooter or defensive stalwart. However, his ability to guard wing players could help him play alongside fellow point guards.

To that point, having Payton on the court shouldn’t just be seen as a way to help the wings and bigs. Murray and Alvarado could also benefit from Payton’s court vision and passing instincts.

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Quenton S Albertie

Quenton Albertie, a native of Ft. Hood, TX, is a credentialed media member with work featured on SLAM Magazine, Sports Illustrated, USA TODAY and other major publications. Currently residing in Atlanta, GA, Albertie’s favorite teams are the Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Broncos.

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