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Cameron Payne Rumors
Chris Paul unlikely to return to Suns
The key will be putting all that increased flexibility to good use and avoiding that second tax apron again. Freeing up the MLE helps for this summer, but among the remaining free agents, it’s hard to see many needle-movers left. Multiple sources confirmed the Suns’ next step after buying out Beal will be targeting a guard who can play on or off the ball, defend multiple positions and align with the toughness, energy level and basketball IQ Phoenix wants. Those sources also confirmed that a reunion with Chris Paul is highly unlikely, while De’Anthony Melton — someone who fits that description to a tee — is likely to return to the Golden State Warriors. Malcolm Brogdon is another combo guard who’s been linked to multiple teams, but beyond that, the crop of free agency guards includes Gary Payton II, Russell Westbrook, Markelle Fultz, Dalano Banton, Cam Payne and Ben Simmons.
Cameron Payne eyeing move to Sacramento?
There will be even more of a whole in the roster if the Kings trade Malik Monk, which has been heavily rumored this offseason. While the Kings have an abundance of guards, they're in the unfortunate position of that still being a roster issue. Sactown Sports 1140's Kyle Draper stated today on The Drive Guys that there's a veteran point guard who has his eye on coming to Sacramento to help fill the possible gap in the roster. "I know of another guard that would love to come and play in Sacramento. His representative are trying to angle him to Sac. Cam Payne," Draper stated.
The duo combined to score 17 consecutive points — nine for Payne and eight for Brunson — until Hart laid in a couple of finger rolls to extend the run to 21 and the Knicks’ lead to 111-98 with less than five minutes to go. Payne finished the night with 14 points, 11 in the fourth quarter, in 15 minutes off the bench. One game into his Knicks postseason career and one year after New Yorkers cursed his name, Payne has tallied his first playoff moment at Madison Square Garden. “On the opposing side last year, it was tough,” Payne said. “It was loud as s— in here. But being on the flip side of it, it felt good.”
A former lottery pick, he found himself out of the NBA six years ago, playing professionally in China without any promise of returning to the league. But he latched on with the Phoenix Suns in 2020 and hasn’t let go since. He survives on vibes. As a rookie, he didn’t appreciate his overall rating in the video game, NBA 2K16. A 72 grade ranked 242nd in the NBA. So Payne solved the problem himself. He created a new player, named the new player Cameron Payne, moved all the sliders up to 99 (the highest rating) and played a season that technically had two Cam Paynes, refusing to acknowledge the lesser avatar. “I gotta give myself some love,” Payne insisted through a smile.
Michael Scotto: Knicks guard Cam Payne: “I’ve been kind of waiting on this game and how I played today all year. I’m grateful. I thank God for everything that happened tonight. I’m just grateful to be still playing in the league, honestly.” pic.x.com/Tc7o8i3Mf8
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Stefan Bondy: Knicks injury report: Jalen Brunson is questionable, Miles McBride has been upgraded to questionable, Neither KAT nor Mitchell Robinson are on the injury report, Cam Payne is probable. Knicks could be at full strength
James L. Edwards III: Cam Payne is back tonight but Delon Wright will start.
Ian Begley: Jalen Brunson (ankle) and Cam Payne (ankle) are both questionable for tomorrow at ATL, Knicks say. Miles McBride (groin) is out.
Ian Begley: Jalen Brunson (ankle), Miles McBride (groin) and Cam Payne (ankle) remain out for the Knicks. The guards will miss Tuesday’s game vs Philadelphia, club says
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McBride, now the starter for Brunson, is more of a catch-and-shoot threat than off-the-dribble playmaker. Backup point guard Cameron Payne has lit Madison Square Garden aflame in spurts this season but is mired in a shooting slump. Hart is more of a connector than a lead ballhandler. “Without 11, sometimes we’re not as organized. … When an integral part of the team goes down it’s a different vibe, a different flow of the game,” Hart said. “I’ve got to do a better job of finding myself, finding my game, in that flow.”
Payne recorded three of the Knicks’ seven swipes in the first half, yet another example of the vast improvement in team defense that spurred a 12-2 stretch in December. “I’m definitely ‘defense wins games, defense wins championships’ kind of guy. I felt like we did that tonight,” Payne said. “That’s what we had to do. … With [two] guys down, we’ve got to find a way to win games and tonight I feel like it was on the defensive end.”
In between the lines, Mikal Bridges is the NBA’s most unassuming trash-talker. Very few baskets pass without him saying something to someone, though rarely ever aggressively over the top. And if he doesn’t say anything, he’s acting something out, whether it be his patented 3-point celebration or creative pleasantries like the one he did toward Brown. “He talks all game, don’t he?” Bridges teammate Cameron Payne said.
Payne’s favorite Bridges trash-talking moment this season came a week ago in Orlando. Bridges’ left arm was grabbed by the Magic’s Anthony Black as he went up for a layup. Bridges finished through the contact and then looked over at Black, flexing his muscle. Bridges isn’t the most jacked dude. Scrawny would be a fair way to describe him. There wasn’t much muscle there when he tried to show it. Payne couldn’t control his laughter.
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