Former Lottery Pick Elfrid Payton Gets Another NBA Shot After 2 Year Absence

After two years out of the NBA, former No. 10 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Elfrid Payton, has scored himself another opportunity to rejoin the top league in the world.

Elfrid Payton has agreed to a training camp deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, sources tell ESPN.

Payton, an Ehret graduate and Gretna native, last played in the NBA in 2022. The 30-year-old played one season with the Pelicans in 2018-19.

Payton is represented by @_tandemse.
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The New Orleans Pelicans have signed the point guard to an Exhibit 10 deal for training camp, but from the sounds of it, his new coach Willie Green, who was his teammate with the Orlando Magic 10 years ago, is pretty high on Payton.

”It’s crazy that he and I were teammates his rookie season in Orlando,” Green, 43, said of the 30-year-old after Friday’s practice. “It’s really good to have him with our group. He’s knowledgeable, he’s tough. He can run the offense. It will be fun to get him on the floor.”

It's a homecoming for Payton, who was born and raised in New Orleans. He last played in an NBA game in 2021-22 for the Phoenix Suns.

“Obviously Elfrid being from New Orleans, is fun for him and fun for us," added Green. "We’re excited that we can give him an opportunity with our group. He’s a sponge. He picks things up pretty quickly.”

In eight NBA seasons, Payton averaged 10 points per game, 5.7 assists and 4 rebounds, in 26.8 minutes per game.