8:06pm: The Knicks have officially signed Payne, the team’s PR department tweets.
6:20pm: The Knicks are signing reserve point guard Cameron Payne to a one-year contract, Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report and TNT tweets.
The Knicks are using the veteran’s minimum exception to sign Payne, Ian Begley of SNY TV tweets. The deal will be worth approximately just over $3MM.
Payne will immediately jump into the mix for backup minutes behind star floor leader Jalen Brunson.
Payne, 29, will be joining his seventh team since entering the league in 2015. He split his time between the Bucks and Sixers last season.
Milwaukee traded Payne and a 2027 second-round pick to Philadelphia for Patrick Beverley at the trade deadline. With Milwaukee, Payne appeared in 47 games and averaged 6.2 points and 2.3 assists in 14.9 minutes. With the Sixers, Payne saw action in 31 regular-season contests, averaging 9.3 points and 3.1 assists in 19.4 minutes. He also appeared in a handful of Philadelphia’s playoff games.
The addition of Payne makes it less likely that second-round pick Tyler Kolek will play a rotation role in his rookie year. Miles McBride is another candidate for regular minutes among the backcourt reserves.
The Knicks had also expressed interest in free agent point man Tyus Jones, according to Begley, who says that Payne’s playoff experience added to his appeal. The addition of Payne gives the Knicks 13 players on the roster, Begley notes (Twitter link), so at least one more move is coming.
Payne was arrested in Arizona this offseason after he made a false report and would not identify himself.
Didn’t he just get arrested for something? Maybe I’m wrong there.
He gave a false name to police during a “verbal altercation” with his gf. I would assume he gets a fine of some sort, if anything.
For nothing major / police being petty
link to complex.com
First ballot “ugliest shot of all time” Hall of Fame
I was hoping to see him come back, and certainly would have preferred he went somewhere else beside NY
Another solid move by the Knicks braintrust. They add another vet to the mix in case jb goes down so as not to increase the pressure on the rook they just drafted
Not sure why they need both Kolek and Payne when Miles McBride is the backup point. A little redundant IMO
Deuce is really more of a 2 guard than a point. He can play both, but the point is that the roster continues to get deeper. I like this move. Now we just need to get Precious back in here and we go to war..
I consider McBride a combo guard who can handle the point and 2 guard spot. I personally really like Kolek. I hope Payne doesn’t stunt Kolek’s growth
Strange no mention of McBride in the article. Payne has had a very inconsistent run the past couple of years as a backup, but this does give Thibs another veteran option. The Knicks have a very nice roster, could use more frontcourt depth. Achiuwa is expected to be next. Have to admire players who are flexible and willing to sacrifice for the team in contract negotiations.
It could be that the three best teams in the Eastern Conference are right here in the Atlantic Division.
Payne would take a minimum is a big factor here.
Didn’t figure this one. Certainly not before addressing the C spot. There was an another G spot open on the 15 man roster, but I assumed it wouldn’t be filled with a guaranteed contract. If McCullar is a 2 way, then they still have 2 potential roster spots, and need at least one more big. They have Achuiwa’s BRs and the little MLE.
See ya Deuce!
Deuce + Randle/Robinson/1st round pick = NEW BIG MAN IN NYC.
Let’s freakin GO!
This is somewhat surprising. I really like McBride. But its looking like he will be moved.
Don’t really think thats the case. Thibs probaly rather play Mcbride as SG and have another player running point. Mcbride will be something like a Jordan Clarkson off the bench with better D
What about Precious and Arcidiacono? Let’s go Knicks!!!
IMO I was hoping for Tyus Jones. I guess he hopes to start somewhere.
Tyus still thinking he can get minutes as a starter? Waiting for injury? I thought the Warriors could have used him before all the other moves. Not sure there was a “fit” issue with Jones. But I liked him enough to draft him in my fantasy league as a late pick. He did well last season overall. Payne has learned a lot everywhere he had played. But 15-20 minutes of spell time is who he is.
But then you have Bridges and OG with Donte and Hart backing them up at SG/SF. McBride was used for both guard spots, but where is he going to get minutes? His contract is extremely reasonable, so my guess is he’s being used as possible trade bait.
I think McBrides value is tied to him in NY. If they move on from him they get little. They keep him they get a lot. I think he can help with the small ball lineup. Especially if Donte gets hurt or needs load management lol
What about Rokas Jokubaitis? Isn’t he playing for the Knicks in the summer league? Why not try to give him a chance?
Rokas has no desire to play in the NBA right now
I think McBride has earned some of his coaches respect. When things went south health wise he was one to play with energy and that “hair on fire” pace. Limited sample in the playoffs but I thought he handled himself well. If nothing else his effort was infectious.
Good move for the Knicks. I like Deuce, and I don’t think this means the end of him in NY, but it does give the Knicks a little flexibility to add him in a deal if his inclusion helps land an upgrade to the roster.
How much did Alec Burks get from Miami? The knicks could have brought him back instead