The Pelicans waived Payton on Tuesday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
With the Pelicans shorthanded in mid-November, Payton signed a deal with New Orleans and was immediately thrust into a major role. Over his first four appearances (three starts), Payton averaged 9.8 points, 9.3 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 26.5 minutes, including a 14-point, 21-assist performance against the Pacers on Nov. 22. However, the Pelicans have gotten a few backcourt pieces back recently and let go of Payton for monetary reasons. If he doesn't get another NBA opportunity, Payton will likely settle for a role in the G League, which is where he was playing before signing with the Pelicans.
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Pelicans' Elfrid Payton: Hands out seven assists
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Payton produced six points (3-6 FG), one rebound, seven assists, two blocks and one steal across 17 minutes during Sunday's 118-85 loss to the Knicks.
Despite a limited workload, Payton made the most of his minutes and showcased his impressive playmaking ability. That workload makes him tough to trust in fantasy formats, however, and minutes won't be easy to come by when Dejounte Murray and CJ McCollum are both healthy.
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Pelicans' Elfrid Payton: Not starting Wednesday
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Payton is not starting in Wednesday's game against the Raptors, Will Guillory of The Athletic reports.
Payton dished out a career-high 21 assists in Monday's loss to the Pacers, but he'll head to the bench with Dejounte Murray (hand) ready to return. As a result, Payton's numbers are likely to regress considerably compared to the three-game stretch in which he started between Nov. 20 and Nov. 25.
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Pelicans' Elfrid Payton: Sets career high with 21 assists
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Payton produced 14 points (7-11 FG), 21 assists, seven rebounds and two steals across 31 minutes during Monday's 114-110 loss to the Pacers.
Payton dished out a new NBA season high in assists while easily surpassing his previous career high of 16 dimes from March of 2019. The 30-year-old signed with the Pelicans last Wednesday after not having played in the league since May of 2022, and he has been impressive thus far. Through three starts in a depleted Pelicans backcourt, Payton has averaged 9.7 points, 11.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals across 26.3 minutes per game.
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Pelicans' Elfrid Payton: Reaches double figures in start
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Payton posted 11 points (5-8 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-2 FT), five rebounds and eight assists over 22 minutes during Wednesday's 128-100 loss to the Cavaliers.
Payton got the starting nod Wednesday after being signed by New Orleans earlier in the day, going on to hand out a team-high assist total while concluding as one of four Pelicans in double figures in scoring. Payton, who has floated between the G League and the NBA, received an NBA starting nod for the first time since March of 2022.
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Pelicans' Elfrid Payton: Thrust into starting role
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Payton will start Wednesday versus Cleveland, Andrew Lopez of ESPN.com reports.
Marking a rapid return to NBA relevance, Payton will start in his first contest after being signed by the Pelicans on Wednesday. Payton was a quality G League floor general across the last two seasons, while his most recent NBA start came in March of 2022.
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Pelicans' Elfrid Payton: Gets spot on roster
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Payton agreed to a one-year contract with the Pelicans on Wednesday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
Payton attended training camp with the Pelicans but missed out on a spot on the season-opening 15-man roster when he was cut Oct. 16. The Pelicans retained Payton's G League rights, but he never took part in any games with the Birmingham Squadron before New Orleans ultimately elected to add him to the roster. The Pelicans will waive guard Jaylen Nowell to make room for Payton, who will provide New Orleans with a more traditional backup option at point guard while both Dejounte Murray (hand) and Jose Alvarado (hamstring) are sidelined. The No. 10 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Payton was a teammate of current Pelicans head coach Willie Green in Orlando to begin his career and previously appeared in 42 games with the Pelicans in the 2018-19 season. Payton's most recent NBA action came back in 2020-21, when he averaged 11.0 minutes in 50 appearances for Phoenix.
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Elfrid Payton: Waived by New Orleans
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Payton was waived by the Pelicans on Wednesday.
Payton was signed to an Exhibit 10 contract on Oct. 11, so he could end up with the G League's Birmingham Squadron.
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Pelicans' Elfrid Payton: Rejoins New Orleans
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The Pelicans signed Payton to a contract Friday.
Despite being left off the team's training camp roster, Payton has signed another contract with the Pelicans. It's unclear if he will make the regular-season roster in New Orleans.
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Elfrid Payton: Absent from training camp roster
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Payton isn't listed on the Pelicans' training camp roster for 2024-25.
Payton made his last NBA appearance in 2021-22 for the Suns. He will likely spend the 2024-25 campaign in the G League.
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Pelicans' Elfrid Payton: Signs training-camp deal
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Payton signed a training camp deal with the Pelicans on Thursday, Andrew Lopez of ESPN.com reports.
Payton is not expected to make the Pelicans roster, though he'll add depth at the point guard position. If he doesn't make the roster, don't rule out Payton from being an option in the G League.
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Pacers' Elfrid Payton: Let go by Indiana
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The Pacers waived Payton on Saturday.
Payton was waived by Indiana after being signed by the team Friday. The 29-year-old guard will likely spend the 2023-24 season with the Pacers' G League affiliate, the Indiana Mad Ants.
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Pacers' Elfrid Payton: Joining Indiana
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The Pacers signed Payton on Friday.
Payton spent last season with the Pacers' G League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. He last saw NBA action in 2021-22, when he averaged 3.0 points, 2.0 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 11.0 minutes across 50 appearances for the Suns. If he makes Indiana's regular-season roster, he will likely compete for a depth role in the backcourt.
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Elfrid Payton: Plays 12 minutes in return
Rotowire
Payton (hamstring) finished with zero points (0-1 FG) and one rebound in 12 minutes during Tuesday's 125-114 win over Long Island.
Payton returned from a hamstring injury and made his first appearance since Feb. 24. However, he was limited to just 12 minutes, so it appears like he's not back to 100 percent yet.
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Elfrid Payton: Goes on injured listed
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The Mad Ants added Payton (hamstring) to the injured list Monday.
Payton was unable to take the floor Sunday due to a hamstring issue, and the injury looks set to cost him additional time as well. Given that just over three weeks remain in the regular season, there isn't much time for him to return during 2022-23 for a Legends squad well out of the playoff picture.
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Elfrid Payton: Dealing with hamstring injury
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Payton didn't play Sunday against Grand Rapids due to a hamstring injury.
Payton played just five minutes last time out before presumably suffering the injury. It's unclear when he'll be able to suit up again.
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Elfrid Payton: Struggles with shot in return
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Payton (leg) posted five points (2-12 FG, 1-3 3PT, 0-1 FT), five rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block in 26 minutes during Wednesday's 122-102 loss to Long Island.
Payton was back in action to start the second-half schedule after missing Fort Wayne's final game before the break due to a leg injury. While the veteran guard played 26 minutes and offered solid peripheral production, he struggled mightily with his shot and scored a season-low five points.
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Elfrid Payton: Out with leg injury
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Payton didn't play in Wednesday's 141-125 win over College Park due to a leg injury.
Payton scored in double figures in each of his first three appearances with Fort Wayne, but he's now dealing with an injury. It's unclear when he'll suit up again.
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Elfrid Payton: Double-doubles in debut
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Payton produced 23 points (10-18 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 3-4 FT), 10 assists, five rebounds, one steal and one block in 28 minutes during Friday's 138-137 loss to Greensboro.
Payton dominated during his 2022-23 G League debut. The 28-year-old point guard was one of three Mad Ants to score at least 20 points and dished out a team-high 10 assists en route to a double-double.
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Elfrid Payton: Exploring options in G League
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Payton signed a G League contract Wednesday and is expected to be assigned to a team in the near future, NBA writer Marc Stein reports.
The 28-year-old Payton was a lottery pick in the 2014 NBA Draft and enjoyed some success early in his career, but he's struggled to stick anywhere on a long-term basis since being dealt away by Orlando in February 2018. He's since bounced around between the Suns, Pelicans and Knicks before reaching free agency following the 2021-22 season after a second stint with Phoenix. After the veteran point guard was unable to find an opportunity with an NBA team ahead of training camp or during the first half of the current season, he'll head to the G League in an attempt to revive his downward-trending career.
