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New York Knicks: Elfrid Payton near return from hamstring injury

By Rob Wolkenbrod

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 28: Elfrid Payton #6 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket against the Chicago Bulls on October 28, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 28: Elfrid Payton #6 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket against the Chicago Bulls on October 28, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The New York Knicks may finally welcome Elfrid Payton back from a hamstring injury.

Lost amid a dreadful start to the season, the New York Knicks have played without Elfrid Payton since Oct. 28 due to a hamstring injury. He was in control of the point guard position beforehand, starting three of 2019-20’s first four games.

Five weeks later, it seems the Knicks could return one of their free-agent acquisitions from the summer shortly. Per SNY’s Ian Begley, coach David Fizdale said it’s possible all of Payton, Marcus Morris and Frank Ntilikina are back in action for Thursday’s game against the Denver Nuggets. Morris and Ntilikina were out with neck and back injuries, respectively.

Payton’s potential return means another shuffle of the point guard deck, which Fizdale had leaned towards the Frenchman for over the past month. It was a process of elimination, especially when Dennis Smith Jr. left the team, but Ntilikina provided good defense and flashed some offensive potential.

When all three were around, Fizdale kept Ntilikina at the end of the bench while Payton and Smith Jr., both of whom fought for the starting job in training camp and the preseason, saw the bulk of the minutes.

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Dividing minutes between these players will indicate how much confidence Fizdale has in each of them, especially Ntilikina and his wavering role under the second-year head coach these past two seasons. If he leaves the rotation, and it would not be a surprise with the veterans assuming major minutes, Payton could receive 20-25 minutes per game and return to his old role.

Basically, nothing will have changed from the start of the season. That coincides with Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, and Allonzo Trier all watching their roles reduce or disappear.

It’s, of course, too early to determine if that will happen. Perhaps Fizdale isn’t happy with Payton’s play upon return and keeps Ntilikina and Smith Jr. as the rotation’s point guards. That could happen over time after the ex-Pelican gets a few cracks at securing a rotation spot.

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Either way, this continues to clutter the rotation of a 4-17 team. No set group has found success for the Knicks, so it’s conceivable that Payton will receive a chance. After that, it’s difficult to figure out what Fizdale does next.

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