Overshadowed by all the hype surrounding the Milwaukee Bucks’ massive acquisition of Damian Lillard is the fact that they also brought in former Phoenix Suns point guard Cameron Payne earlier this month.
Milwaukee needed a backup point guard in the rotation and they saw Payne as the right man for the job. At this point, however, there is no word as to when the 6-foot-1 guard will make his Bucks debut.
Milwaukee Bucks ‘Being Smart’ on Cameron Payne
As it turns out, there is one compelling reason as to why Payne was not able to suit up on Sunday in Milwaukee’s preseason opener against the Chicago Bulls. Bucks team insider Eric Nehm of The Athletic reports that the team is “being smart” with the 29-year-old ahead of what is going to be an important season for both Payne and the Bucks.
Nehm also reports that much like Lillard, Payne “did not have a way to do team workouts and pickup games in September.” He has been working out with the team since he joined them earlier this month, though, so it should only be a matter of time before he plays his first game for Milwaukee.
The Bucks are scheduled to play on Tuesday in their second preseason contest as they take on the Memphis Grizzlies. It is unclear if Payne will be available for that one.
Cameron Payne’s Path to Milwaukee
Since being the Oklahoma City Thunder’s No. 14 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Payne has bounced around the league quite a bit throughout his eight-year tenure. He has also had stints with the Chicago Bulls, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and most recently, the Suns.
The former Murray State standout spent the last four seasons in Phoenix before the team traded him off to the San Antonio Spurs earlier this summer. The Suns also sent a 2025 second-round pick to San Antonio as well as cash considerations in exchange for a 2024 conditional second-rounder.
Payne was deemed surplus to requirements for the Spurs, and they opted to waive him in September. After spending several weeks in free agency, he found a new home in Milwaukee, where he signed a one-year contract with the team.
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