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NBA Season Preview 2017-2018: 10 players that will make a leap this season

By Jerry Christodoulatos

MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 08: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks works against Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a game at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 8, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 08: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks works against Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a game at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 8, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FL – APRIL 6: Aaron Gordon #00 and Elfrid Payton #4 of the Orlando Magic are seen during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on April 6, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

10. Elfrid Payton

Point guards generally take a long time to grow and develop a level of comfort in the NBA. When he entered the league, Elfrid Payton impressed teams with his passing vision and his defensive potential. Elfrid has performed reasonably well in those aspects of the game, but his poor shooting and scoring have really hindered his development; he’s a career 29 percent shooter from beyond the arc (per Basketball-Reference). To provide some historical context…that’s just a hair above Josh Smith’s career percentage!

In his third year, Payton flashed some glimmers of hope though.  Elfrid stealthily had the best stretch of his career in the second half of last season. He finished off the year stuffing the stat sheet, hitting up teammates at a career high rate and pulling down heaps of rebounds. Payton also upped his scoring, improving his finishing at the rim and within the painted area. Elfrid’s 3-point shooting was still erratic and teams will continue to duck under screens on him and abandon him off the ball. He is more adept at making them pay for such tactics at this point in his career though.

Payton will probably never be an All-Star caliber player, but he has the skills to be a legit starter in the NBA. Getting in the low 30s in terms of 3-point percentage would be transformative for Payton. If teams can’t totally abandon him off the ball, his on court value will be so much greater. As he prepares to hit the frightening restricted free agent market next summer, Elfrid better improve that shot!