Free agent point guards the Chicago Bulls should avoid at all costs: Cameron Payne
It’s hard to imagine that there are many Bulls fans out there that would welcome the sight of a return of the Phoenix Suns breakout point guard Cameron Payne back to the Windy City ahead of next season. While it is nice to see Payne having a magical run with a potential title-winner in the two-seed Suns this year, he should not be considered an option by Karnisovas and the Bulls to get out of free agency this summer.
Although this is a completely different front office regime and coaching staff in Chicago than was here during Payne’s bits and pieces of two seasons with the team, this still wouldn’t be a great fit. Payne has very much found himself a home with the Suns, and there’s a good chance that he comes back to the Valley next season.
Payne’s breakout in the playoffs might not even be enough for him to get a starting role elsewhere. He was great thus far for the Suns, but it’s hard to see another team willing to make the jump to make him their point guard in the starting unit next season. Given how high Payne’s price tag could be driven up by other contenders needing a second unit point guard, that would be a bad move to sign him to be a starter on a lower-tier team.
Signed down through the end of this season, Payne is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. When he becomes an unrestricted free agent he could also be coming off the first title of his career (if the Suns can get two more wins over the Milwaukee Bucks).
It’s likely to be a team like the Suns, Nets, Dallas Mavericks, etc. that is on the brink of title contention that wants to sign Payne this summer.