PHOENIX SUNS
Cam Payne reportedly agrees to re-sign with Suns on 3-year contract
Aug 2, 2021, 3:32 PM | Updated: 8:57 pm
Cameron Payne #15 of the Phoenix Suns brings the ball up court against the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half in Game Six of the NBA Finals at Fiserv Forum on July 20, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Backup point guard Cam Payne has agreed to re-up with the Phoenix Suns on a three-year, $19 million deal, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Chris Haynes.
Phoenix this past season retained Payne after he first joined the team for eight games in the Disney World bubble to close the 2019-20 season. The next year, he played a key role coming off the bench during the Suns’ run to their first postseason appearance in more than a decade.
Payne averaged 8.4 points with 3.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 60 games played.
He shot 44% from three-point land last season, a career-high.
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The 26-year-old saw an expanded role during the playoffs, especially when Chris Paul was sidelined due to a shoulder issue in the first round against the Lakers and again when Paul was placed on the COVID-19 list for two games to begin the Western Conference Finals against the Clippers.
Payne averaged 9.3 points per game in the playoffs, with 3.2 assists and 2.5 rebounds.
“As far as being a team member, the way he played this year was phenomenal,” Phoenix general manager James Jones said Thursday after the NBA Draft. “I couldn’t be happier for Cam. I know the team — we all enjoyed his success. He’s a kid that has played his way back into a position … which is a really good, quality, rotation NBA player. We’re excited for what he’s done.
“Looking forward to talking to him soon to keep him with us. We know how valuable he is for us and I believe there is a lot more growth in his game that (coach Monty Williams) can unlock.”
In 221 career NBA games, the Tennessee native has averaged 6.8 points per game.
Out of Murray State, Payne was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder 15th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft and went a spot behind Suns guard Devin Booker.
He struggled to find consistency with the Thunder through his first season-plus there, then was traded to the Chicago Bulls. He bounced from there to the Cleveland Cavaliers, then the Toronto Raptors, to China and then the G League’s Texas Legends before landing with the Suns as they prepared for the bubble during the pandemic.
