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Shams Charania, ESPNNov 20, 2024, 08:03 AM ET
Former No. 10 overall pick Elfrid Payton has agreed to a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, his agent Darrell Comer of Tandem told ESPN.
Payton went to training camp with the Pelicans and rejoins the team after recent injuries to starting guards Dejounte Murray (fractured hand) and CJ McCollum (right adductor soreness). The Pelicans are without Murray, McCollum, Zion Williamson, Jose Alvarado, Jordan Hawkins and Herb Jones as they enter Wednesday’s game at the Cleveland Cavaliers. They have lost of eight of their past nine games.
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Payton, 30, is entering his ninth NBA season and was a teammate with now-Pelicans coach Willie Green on the 2014-15 Orlando Magic.
The Pelicans are waiving guard Jaylen Nowell to create roster space, sources said. A six-year NBA player, Nowell averaged 8.4 points and 2.3 assists in 21 minutes over seven games for the Pelicans.
Payton, a 6-foot-3 point guard, was named first team All-Rookie in 2015. He has averaged 10.1 points, 5.7 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game for his career. He last played in 2021-22 for the Phoenix Suns, appearing in 50 games.
