Elfrid Payton was part of the Knicks’ roster purge just ahead of free agency, waived as the team cleared cap space. But days later he was back and said he never thought he’d be anyplace else.
While Payton was in limbo after the Knicks did not pick up the second year of his contract that would have paid him $8 million, the team drafted a point guard in the first round and with an already-crowded group it might have seemed unlikely he’d return. The Knicks inquired on the trade market and free agency, checking in on stars who might be available, but then signed him back for $4.