Former top-10 pick attempting NBA comeback

Over two full years since his last NBA appearance, a former lottery pick is officially back. Andrew Lopez of ESPN reported Thursday that the New Orleans Pelicans have agreed to a deal with veteran guard Elfrid Payton. Still only 30, Payton is getting a non-guaranteed training camp deal from New Orleans.

The No. 10 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Payton already played for the Pelicans in the 2018-19 season (producing some of his best career numbers with 10.6 points, 5.



2 rebounds and 7.6 assists per contest). Payton is also a Louisiana native who played his college ball at Louisiana-Lafayette, making the reunion especially fitting.

The 6-foot-3 Payton last played in the NBA for the Phoenix Suns in 2021-22 but has since played in Puerto Rico as well as in the NBA G League. Though Payton has had some lowlights in his NBA career , he is nice stat-stuffer and floor general who can fight for the third point guard spot behind Dejounte Murray and Jose Alvarado in New Orleans. This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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