Orlando Magic’s Elfrid Payton throws one down in Summer League (video)

The Orlando Magic are clearly big fans of former Louisiana Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns’ point guard Elfrid Payton.

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After using the fourth-overall pick to select former Arizona Wildcats’ forward Aaron Gordon, the Magic used the 12th-overall pick on Croatian forward Dario Saric. The pick surprised some because the Magic not only had just taken a forward, but Saric recently signed a two-year deal in Turkey and would be spending at least one more year overseas (and if he did spend just one year, his NBA team would have to pay for a buyout). Things began to make more sense when it was announced the Magic had traded the rights to Saric and a future pick to the Philadelphia 76ers for the rights to Payton.

This week, the Magic, along with nine other teams are showing off their rookies, other young players. The Magic are taking on the Memphis Grizzlies, a team that features former UCLA Bruins’ guard Jordan Adams and former Tennessee Volunteers’ big man Jarnell Stokes. During the first half of that matchup, Payton took the ball and exploded to the hoop for a huge dunk.

Payton put up 19.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.3 steals per game and shot 50.0% from the floor, but just 25.9% from beyond the arc and 59.0% from the free throw line. He measured in at 6’3.75 and 185 lbs. with a wingspan of 6’8 at the NBA’s Scouting Combine. Payton wass ranked as the 15th-best prospect in the draft by Jonathan Givony of Draft Express.

(Video courtesy of @gifdsports)