Cameron Payne, PG
Bulls fans got to witness the revitalization of the game of the former Oklahoma City Thunder and Murray State Racers point guard Cameron Payne in the bubble last season just prior to the beginning of the playoffs. The Phoenix Suns went out on a whim to sign Payne, and it wound up working really well for both parties in the end.
Payne was one of the better bench point guards in the bubble last year, and that came as a surprise to many. It looked like Payne’s career was not headed in the right direction from his recent stints with the Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers. But the Suns were able to find a good role for him, especially this season, behind the star backcourt duo of veteran point guard Chris Paul and electric volume scoring guard Devin Booker.
Getting a decent amount of minutes off the bench in the bubble last year with the Suns, and so far this season, Payne is making the most of his opportunity in the Valley of the Sun. So far this season, he’s averaged 6.8 points per game, 2.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.2 blocks, in three dozen games played (none of which he’s started in). And Payne shot 47.2 percent from the field, 39.8 percent from beyond the arc, and 89.7 percent from the free-throw line.
The Suns are one of the best teams out in the Western Conference standings so far this season, and their deep bench is one of the major reasons why. Payne has contributed a lot for the Suns since his run with the Bulls and Cavaliers didn’t end on the best of notes.
This just goes to show that the Bulls had way too great of a revolving door at the point guard position a few years back under the direction of former head coaches Jim Boylen and Fred Hoiberg.