2014 NBA Mock Draft: An in-depth look at both rounds
By Joe Nardone
12. Orlando Magic — Elfrid Payton, PG, La Lafayette
H: 6′ 4″ W: 185 lbs DOB: 02/22/1994
2013-14 NCAA (32 GP) 19.3 PPG 6.3 RPG 5.8 APG 24.4 PER
Reach! Well, no. So, um shut your mouth or something.
Actually, Payton will probably climb mock drafts as we get closer to the actual event. That’s because the 20-year-old has an incredible ability to put the ball in the bucket by creating his own shot. He also does an above-average job of creating opportunities for his teammates.
He’s a pretty big point guard, too. The 6’4″ (still needs to put on some weight), Elfrid Payton isn’t a combo-guard. He is a true point guard who just so happens to have the ability to regularly score. Really, had he come from a bigger program or were a foreign born player we might be talking about he and Exum in the same vein.
The biggest knock against Payton is that he took him a minute to figure it out at the college level. Some will even call him a late-bloomer. On the other hand, you can just take the approach that he is only 20 and has improved vastly with each year he has played.
It is worth noting that Payton isn’t currently the greatest shooter in the world either. However, that never stops anyone from taking potential-riddled prospects before.
With Jameer Nelson getting older and Olrando in reboot mode, Payton would be a great fit for the Magic. — Joe