Utah Jazz: J-Notes staffers evaluate every NBA trade deadline deal
By Ryan Aston
Suns get Elfrid Payton
TO SUNS: Elfrid Payton. TO MAGIC: 2018 second-round pick.
Padmore: To me, this was the biggest steal of the trade deadline. Phoenix finally makes a great move, getting a young, defensive-minded point guard in exchange for only a second-round pick. Take a bow, Ryan McDonough.
Aston: I’m right there with you — steal of the deadline. I’ve been very critical of the Suns organization in the past; from ownership to the front office on down. However, I have to give it up to them here. Payton is a player who could end up being part of their organization for a long time. I don’t expect he’ll continue to average 20 points per game, but he can be solid for them. Meanwhile, the Magic really are in limbo.
Thorpe: Orlando sells LOW on a young PG and the Suns took full advantage. This trade helped alleviate my concerns that Utah may not have taken the best offer on the table for Rodney Hood. In this market, Utah was never going to get anything but a low first-rounder at best for Hood.
Woodcox: I get that the Magic want to retool, but giving up a player (even an admittedly flawed one) with as much value as Payton for just a second-round pick was idiotic. I’m a big Frank Vogel fan and it’s moves like this that solidify my argument that the problem in Orlando is the front office, not the head coach.
Keeffer: Only a second-round pick?! Elfrid Payton was having a career year with the Magic, so I am a bit surprised that is the best deal they could find. Perhaps the Magic are already targeting a point guard in the draft or free agency, and felt it best to part ways now. Smart pick-up for the Suns though. They get a young, defensive-minded guard, who has great vision. Devin Booker has been playing the point for Phoenix, and this should help take the load off his shoulders.
Next: D-Wade returns to South Beach