After failing to find a home in the NBA so far this season, free agent former New York Knicks guard Cameron Payne has agreed to a deal to continue his pro hoops career elsewhere.
Per a team press statement, Serbian club KK Partizan has inked the 6-foot-2 point guard to a rest-of-season deal.
More news: Former Bulls Star Horace Grant Takes Firm Stance on Rooting for NBA Nephew
The 31-year-old journeyman enjoyed a 10-season NBA career. Although he may not have necessarily have delivered on the promise that convinced Oklahoma City Thunder team president Sam Presti to select at the bottom of the lottery (via the No. 14 pick) out of Murray State during the 2015 NBA Draft, Payne in his prime still proved to be a useful backup on strong playoff teams.
Payne cycled through several teams before finding his footing later in his career. He failed to make much of a dent with the Thunder, the Chicago Bulls, the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Phoenix Suns across his first five NBA seasons.
But things turned around in 2020-21, with the arrival of “Point God” All-NBA superstar Chris Paul. Payne became a reliable, change-of-pace bench option for the Finals-bound Suns that year.
More news: Bulls Legend Horace Grant Sends Clear Message on Chicago’s Recent Struggles
In 2021-22, with Phoenix en route to a 64-win season (before collapsing in the second round of the playoffs against the Luka Doncic/Jalen Brunson-era Dallas Mavericks), Payne submitted his best individual NBA season to date. He notched averages of 10.8 points on .409/.336/.843 shooting splits, 4.9 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 0.7 steals in 58 healthy games (12 starts). He later played for the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers and most recently the Knicks.
Across 72 regular season bouts for the 51-31 Knicks last year, Payne averaged 6.9 points while slashing .401/.363/.907, 2.8 assists and 1.4 rebounds a night. Payne’s role was reduced in the playoffs by then-Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, who slashed his minutes from 15.1 during the regular season to 7.3.
With reserve guard Miles McBride and second-year point guard Tyler Kolek ascending, plus former Utah Jazz Sixth Man of the Year combo guard Jordan Clarkson joining New York on a free agent contract, the Knicks opted to not bring back Payne.
More news: Chicago Bulls All-Star Reveals Wild Phil Jackson Coaching Decision
For all the latest NBA news and rumors, head over to Newsweek Sports.