Knicks GM interested in Magic PG Elfrid Payton at trade deadline

Before Scott Perry took the job as general manager of the New York Knicks, he served as vice president of basketball operations and assistant GM with the Orlando Magic. And during his time in Orlando, Perry drafted Elfrid Payton.

Now in his first season with the Knicks, it appears things are coming full circle. According to The New York Post’s Marc Berman, Perry is interested in trading for Payton, and he and Magic GM John Hammond have discussed a larger deal that would also include centers Joakim Noah and Bismack Biyombo. Noah has what is widely agreed on as the worst contract in the NBA and has not been with the Knicks after feuding with head coach Jeff Hornacek. Any team taking his contract back will want draft picks, and Orlando is no different.

Payton has shown mild progress since his disappointing rookie season, averaging 13 points, 6.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game on a much-improved 37 percent shooting from three (on limited attempts). But there is little-to-no indication he can become much more than a stingy perimeter defender with a limited offensive repertoire.

Not really. New York selected Frank Ntilikina ahead of both Donovan Mitchell and Dennis Smith Jr. Ntilikina is only averaging five points and three assists, but he has shown tremendous defensive potential and has flirted with triple doubles a few times this season. It would look questionable at the least if the Knicks added in another young point guard to take up his developmental minutes. But it should be remembered the Perry was not the general manager who drafted Ntilikina; Steve Mills was.

Shedding Noah’s contract is Priority A for a Knicks team looking to free up cap space in the years to come, but giving up significant assets to do so is counterintuitive. Noah has two more years after this current season worth nearly $38 million on his contract. It’s a tricky situation the Knicks put themselves in after signing Noah to a four-year, $72 million deal two summers ago. Perry also isn’t responsible for signing Noah — that honor belongs to Phil Jackson.

Orlando GM John Hammond might be looking to deal Payton, according to Berman, but that doesn’t mean he’ll give him up for nothing. Payton’s 2017-18 salary is $3.3 million. New York probably won’t give up any players of value in a deal that logjams the point guard position.

Payton also becomes a restricted free agent this summer. While the market won’t be salivating when he hits the market, the Knicks would still have to pay Payton a sizable contract over a few years to keep him — or renounce him and let him walk away.

Probably not. Between Ntilikina, Trey Burke and Jarrett Jack, there are already options in New York at the point guard slot. Adding another doesn’t necessarily make sense, especially when Payton hasn’t necessarily shown huge improvements year-to-year. For that reason, we give the Knicks a 15 percent chance at trading for the Magic point guard. You never rule anything out in New York, but this one probably isn’t going down — unless Noah’s contract comes off the books for few draft assets.