The time comes to February 9th, the trade deadline day of the season has arrived.
The Pacers were the first to take action, reaching a three-way deal with the Pelicans and Magic.
The Pacers traded the injury-plagued Little Thomas to get Elfrid Payton;
The Magic Team traded Elfrid Payton and received Nelson and a future lottery-protected first-round pick;
The Pelicans traded Nelson and a lottery-protected first-round pick to get Little Thomas;
Elfrid Payton is the point guard the Magic have focused on developing over the years, this season he has averaged 13 points, 4 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.5 steals.
He has excellent defensive skills and good organizational ability, but his problem is a lack of shooting ability, very similar to McCallum.
The reason the Magic traded him is that this type of guard isn't favored in the small-ball era, and it's also the last year of his rookie contract.
The Pelicans' motive is easier to understand, they lack a hard scorer in crucial moments.
