Poor Elf... the bar is extremely low in Phoenix and it only took 16 games for fans to give up on him as a future starter...
THREAD TOPIC:
I'm starting to understand why Orlando gave Elfrid Payton for a second round pick
Orlando is far from an ideal front office, but I'm starting to understand why they gave him up so soon for practically nothing. He seems to be a good kid and an OK player. That "OK player" is where the problem lies. The best way to describe him is to say he's someone with a lot of potential that he likely will never reach and as long as he stays on the team he will keep the decision on the starting PG position in a limbo: It would be too illogical to bring him off the bench or look for another starting PG, yet with time you start to realize this is who he is and those triple-double nights when he amazes will happen only once on a full moon.
This is not to say he doesn't belong in NBA. He's just not good enough to be a starter on a winning team, and too talented to come off the bench on a losing team. As he gets older and completes his first post-rookie contract, he'll be more desirable, but right now I would not resign him unless he's mentally ready to take the lesser role.
RESPONSES:
I dislike starting PGs who can't shoot so yeah
I feel like the best you can hope for is for a point guard to have 2 of the 3 main skills you'd like for them to have: Shooting, Playmaking, Defense. Very few guys have all 3. Unfortunately, unless Elfrid learns to shoot or defend the pick and roll, he just has 1.
I mean, this was very obvious from the start. He's a quality PG but not someone they planned on paying. I'd love to have him back as our backup PG on a 3 year deal though
I like that McD traded for him. Tried it out, realized that his skill set isn’t what this team needs, and now we move on. No harm no foul
This. Gives us a feel for what type of PG goes best with our young core so far. Looks like we definitely need a shooter at pg
I agree with you on him taking a lesser role. That needs to happen in order to re-sign him, assuming we land a good PG in the draft/FA.
The problem with a point guard who can't shoot is that they really need to be effective at other aspects of their game; if they're not, they're rendered pretty useless. No gravity, can't space the floor, makes it harder on everyone else. Unless you're Ben Simmons or Giannis, you can't be effective
Shaquille Harrison better.
Lately he has been looking as one of those players with potential that don't do any particular thing with efficiency and can easily turn into a negative.
He’s like a lessor rondo. It’s clear that he holds onto the ball and goes assist hunting. That type of player kills ball movement and really doesn’t make his teammates better even if his assist stats suggest otherwise.
I don’t want him at any price higher than his qualifying offer
I think he had more of a grip on the starting PG job in Orlando than he does here. The Suns could resign him to be their PG until they find someone better. I saw someone compare him to Ish Smith and I think that's a fair comparison. He's a good playmaker but is no threat as a shooter outside of the line. He's a little bigger than Ish and does shoot a little better but not enough to make much of a difference. He could excel as a backup PG who can be the first guard off the bench, making things easier for the 2nd unit, but so long as he is your starting PG though you won't have much success. He won't cost you any games but he won't win them for you either. Sort of like a QB that is just a game manager. If he can be resigned for $6-8 million a year I'd like to have him back but I wouldn't pay anymore than that.
I still don't understand why he don't cut his hair. Like what are you trying to prove? I truly believe if he cuts his hair he will be a totally different player imo but what do I know.
and then RH could safely go back to OKC and assume imaginary title and position
