ORLANDO, Fla. _ The Orlando Magic have agreed to trade point guard Elfrid Payton to the Phoenix Suns for a 2018 second-round pick.
Payton, a point guard in his fourth season, is on track to become a restricted free agent this summer, and the new Magic front office tandem of President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman and general manager John Hammond clearly did not regard Payton as their point guard of the future.
Although Payton is posting career highs in scoring (13.0 points per game), field-goal percentage (.520) and 3-point shooting percentage (.373), he doesn't stretch opposing defenses because of his reputation as a subpar shooter. His defense at the point of attack also has been a major issue.
The deal was first reported by ESPN and confirmed by the Orlando Sentinel.
The Magic will receive the second-most favorable pick among Charlotte's 2018 second-round pick, Memphis' 2018 second-round pick and Miami's 2018 second-round pick.
If the current standings hold, the Magic would receive Charlotte's pick, 41st overall.
The NBA trade deadline expired at 3 p.m. Thursday, and the Magic and Suns submitted the transaction to the league under the wire.
Because a trade call has not been completed, neither team can announce the move.
The Magic did not agree to any other trade before the deadline, a league source said.
In recent games, the Magic have performed better with veteran D.J. Augustin running the point than with Payton running the point.
Augustin, in the second year of a four-year deal, is considered an NBA journeyman, but he has made 40.4 percent of his 3-point attempts this season.
The Magic and Suns have one more game remaining against each other this season: on March 24 at Amway Center.
