The Orlando Magic were the first team to make a major trade this season when they sent Tobias Harris to the Pistons. In that trade, the Magic acquired Ersan Ilyasova and point guard Brandon Jennings, so it got some people to wondering what this might mean for Elfrid Payton. Payton hasn't taken the massive step forward that the Magic were hoping he would this year, but there has been improvement and they still see him as a big part of the future, according to Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel.
Orlando's goal this deadline was to use some of their young talent to add veteran players to their roster regardless of position. They achieved that, as both Ilyasova and Jennings have been in the league for quite some time. It just so happens that Jennings plays the same position as Payton. Payton's role has kind of been all over the place for the Magic this season, but he entered the All-Star break playing tremendous basketball.
In the three games leading up to the break, Payton averaged 15 points and 8.7 assists while making 50 percent of his field goals. Overall, Payton's numbers have shown improvement, with the most important jump being in his three point percentage. Shooting was the biggest concern regarding Payton when he was selected 10th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft, and he shot just 26 percent from downtown as a rookie. In the offseason, the Magic had said that Payton's jump shot was improving, and they were right as he is up to 36 percent from three this season.
Because of Payton's recent success, the acquisition of Jennings may have been a bit of a surprise to some Magic fans, but it shouldn't affect Payton all that much. GM Rob Hennigan said that the trade was not an implication on Payton and that his belief in Payton "has not wavered." It is unclear if Payton will remain the starter, although that is a good bet, but either way, the 38.7 minutes he was averaging in the three games leading up to the break will likely decrease.
Orlando has had backup point guard issues all year, as C.J. Watson has been hurt and Shabazz Napier hasn't been very effective, so Jennings may fill that role. Having said that, Scott Skiles does not mind sitting players to make a point and has done so with Payton in the past. So regardless of Hennigan's confidence in him, Payton has to play well to earn his minutes. There are questions about whether Payton fits with Skiles because Skiles wants more offense from the point guard spot, according to Carson Ingle of Fansided, but at the very least, he has the support of the organization.
