According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Charlotte Hornets are adding Elfrid Payton on a 10 day contract.
The Charlotte Hornets are signing guard Elfrid Payton to a 10-day contract, agent Darrell Comer of Tandem told ESPN. Payton returns to the NBA after strong performances for the Pelicans earlier this season, including a 14-point, 21-assist game on Nov. 25. pic.twitter.com/RRIdAIBiDr
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 7, 2025
Payton will be counted on pretty quickly given the lack of healthy guards currently on the roster. Vasa Micic had been manning the bulk of the point guard minutes, but he’s outta here, so that’s going to fall on Payton until LaMelo Ball comes back.
As Shams notes in the Tweet, Payton spent some time with the Pelicans earlier this season. In seven games, he averaged 6.7 points, 6.9 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in about 20 minutes per game. I, like I think many, were surprised that the Pelicans let his short term contract lapse and didn’t keep him around.
Payton likely isn’t a long term piece, but he should be able to competently run the offense and adds even more defensive tenacity to a team that’s heavily prioritizing that with their player acquisitions right now.
