Orlando Magic Acquire Rights to Elfrid Payton

Mar 21, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Louisiana Lafayette Ragin Cajuns guard Elfrid Payton (2) drives against Creighton Bluejays guard Grant Gibbs (10) in the first half of a men

The Orlando Magic drafted Dario Saric 12th overall but immediately traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers for point guard Elfrid Payton in tonight’s NBA Draft.

Payton was drafted 10th overall by Philly but will now see his rights traded to Orlando. The Magic will also send a future second-round pick to Philly to complete the deal as well as a protected first round pick in 2017.

In three years at Louisiana-Lafayette, Payton averaged 14.3 points per game, including 19.2 in the 2013-14 season.

For a point guard, he doesn’t have a high assist per game average as he only dished out 4.9 a game in 100 career collegiate games. He does rebound well though, averaging over five a game in his college career.

He shot over 50 per cent from the floor last season but struggles from both the 3-point line and while shooting free throws.

Payton can create his own shot however, and is a very good ball-handler. He’s also very quick. He stands 6’3 and is said to be a very good defender. Yet, he turns the ball over a number of times a game, something that must be fixed.

By acquiring Payton, the Magic may have their point guard of the future. It’s unclear right now if Jameer Nelson still fits in to the Magic’s plans at point guard but you have to figure he’ll stick around to mentor Payton.

He was also a member of the Under-19 U.S. national team at the world championships in Prague last summer where he started all nine of the Americans’ games, winning gold in the process.

Earlier tonight, the Magic took Arizona forward Aaron Gordon 4th overall. They also have the 56th overall pick later, which they acquired earlier today in the Arron Afflalo trade.