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New York Knicks: Elfrid Payton’s surge and the impact of his return

By Rob Wolkenbrod

DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 15: Elfrid Payton #6 of the New York Knicks brings the ball down the court against the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter at the Pepsi Center on December 15, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 15: Elfrid Payton #6 of the New York Knicks brings the ball down the court against the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter at the Pepsi Center on December 15, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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Finally healthy, Elfrid Payton is emerging at point guard for the New York Knicks.

The New York Knicks have already welcomed Elfrid Payton back for six games from a strained hamstring. His play has contributed to the team’s first winning streak of the season, formerly with the chance of extending it to three games on Sunday night.

Suddenly, Payton has value to the team. But what does it all mean moving forward?

Pre-injury

Before missing time, Payton was the man at point guard for the now-former head coach, David Fizdale. He did not start the opener but moved into the lineup for the three subsequent games.

Staying off the court for over a month risked the ex-Pelican losing playing time upon return. Frank Ntilikina emerged in that time, gifting him a starting role that should not go away anytime soon. Dennis Smith Jr. also had his chance to stand out but was largely unsuccessful.

Impacting the rotation

Payton’s greatest impact is on Smith Jr., who has not played in two consecutive games. The former has 13.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.7 assists in his first three appearances, each of which from the bench.

The team listed Smith Jr. as “probable” to play in Friday’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings due to an illness, but no pre-game announcement was made on the third-year guard’s status before facing Denver.

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Per Marc Berman of the New York Post, interim coach Mike Miller praised the team having three point guards to work with, potentially signaling the use of Smith Jr:

"“We really feel we have three guys we can go with that bring different things to the table,’’ Miller said. “They’re good players that bring different things to the games you have to prepare for. We want to continue to attack the paint. Being able to play different guys at that position, it keeps us more aggressive.”"

However, Payton and Ntilikina, including their work against the Nuggets, have played effective enough to take over 20 minutes each. That leaves little for Smith Jr., even with Damyean Dotson‘s minor run Sunday and Wayne Ellington sitting with an Achilles injury.

What’s next?

If Miller’s aforementioned words hold up, Smith Jr. will receive another chance at a role. With the Knicks showing better ball movement and staying competitive these past three games, though, it may take a dramatic faltering to open a spot for the North Carolina State product, or just one instance of Payton or Ntilikina having foul trouble.

It’s not a great outlook. Smith Jr has flashed some positive performances, but none of them created a streak of games to push him in the right direction.

Perhaps taking a seat is what Smith Jr. needs for an eventual turnaround. If he fails in the next opportunity, however, his long-term fit will continue to cloud with the Knicks, opening a window for another chance of scenery.

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As for Payton, he could play his way into becoming a trade piece, but the New York Knicks also need point guards like him to push the ball. He can even return for another year if they choose. So, it’s a toss-up, for now, and more of a wait-and-see situation if he fits into the plans for the rest of 2019-20.

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