Sources: Pelicans bring in Payton on camp deal

The New Orleans Pelicans are bringing in veteran guard Elfrid Payton on a training camp deal, sources told ESPN on Thursday afternoon.

Payton, 30, is from the New Orleans area and played college basketball at the University of Louisiana, just a two-hour drive west.

He last played in the NBA in 2021-22 when he spent time with the Phoenix Suns. He spent time last season with the G-League’s Indiana Mad Ants.

He previously played with New Orleans during the 2018-19 season and had perhaps his best NBA season. He averaged 10.6 points and career highs in assists per game (7.6) and rebounds per game (5.2). During the late stage of that season, Payton recorded consecutive games with a triple-double.

New Orleans is holding training camp in Nashville this season as renovations are still ongoing at the practice facility in Metairie, Lousiana.

Payton’s deal was negotiated by his agents at Tandem Sports + Entertainment.