The New Orleans Pelicans have made the surprising move of waiving veteran guard Elfrid Payton after playing just seven games this season. This is somewhat surprising given Payton’s experience and previous contributions to NBA teams, but the move reflects a change in the Pelicans’ roster strategy as the team is making adjustments for the remainder of the season.
According to sources familiar with the team, the Pelicans have decided to separate with Payton based on needs and long-term plans for the roster. In flashes of good play for a 29-year-old throughout his career, the Pelicans have chosen to go with moving in a different direction due to the need for available younger talent and getting themselves aligned with their change lineups.
Elfrid Payton came to the Pelicans at the end of the preseason looking for some depth there. Payton did not contribute a whole lot with an average game in his somewhat limited time, consisting of five or so assists and four rebounds but never seemed too important to the Pelicans.
He may have established himself with solid career averages over the years in Orlando, Phoenix, and New York, but Payton had been having a hard time lately with scoring and shooting. The Pelicans thought that he would be the ideal veteran leader and a stable hand for their backcourt, but it quickly became apparent that Payton was not going to be that fit.
Waiving Payton frees up space on the Pelicans for other players, especially guards and forwards who are youngsters with a lot of eagerness for playing time. So much has been the need this season to develop the stars with Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram as the focal point. At the same time, the team has to nurture the young talent -Jose Alvarado, and Trey Murphy III.
The Pelicans’ backcourt rotation will likely undergo further changes as the season progresses. With Payton’s departure, the team now has the flexibility to adjust its lineup and bring in new players, whether through trade, free agency, or development from within the roster. The Pelicans’ management is clearly looking to optimize their roster for both the present and future, and this move aligns with that strategy.
As for Elfrid Payton, his future in the NBA is still up in the air. He has proven to be a solid backup point guard in previous seasons, but his inability to score and shoot may limit his options as a free agent. However, Payton’s experience and court vision could still appeal to teams in need of a reliable, veteran presence in their backcourt. His next move might be on another NBA roster, or maybe another role, like coaching or mentoring younger players.
The Pelicans will look to the next phase of their season with the focus of cementing themselves in a highly competitive Western Conference and giving younger players more minutes.
