Cameron Payne

After breaking out during the 2021 playoffs (9.3 points, 3.2 assists and 2.5 rebounds across 22 games), Payne started the 2021-22 campaign with a sizable role, posting 10.5 points, 3.6 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 20.6 minutes across his first 39 games. However, he ultimately struggled with his efficiency late in the season, shooting just 34.6 percent from the field across his last 20 appearances. During the Suns' second-round loss to the Mavericks, the lefty point guard posted just 2.9 points (28.1 FG%) in 11.7 minutes across the seven-game series. Regardless, on the season, he still averaged 10.8 points -- career high for a full season -- and a career-high 4.9 assists per game. However, as mentioned, he struggled with his efficiency, shooting just 40.9 percent from the field and 33.6 percent from three after shooting 48.4 percent and 44.0 percent, respectively, a year prior. The Suns added Damion Lee and Josh Okogie this offseason, but neither should push Payne for the top backup spot behind Chris Paul. As a starter last year (12 games), Payne averaged 14.0 points, 9.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals across 29.8 minutes. Even if Payne doesn't garner a major role as a backup, he'll still be fantasy relevant as a fill-in for Paul, who figures to get periodic veteran rest days throughout his age-37 season.

After five years of limited NBA action, as well as stints in China and the G League, Payne seems to have finally found a home in Phoenix. Following strong bubble play in 2020, Payne's contract was picked up for a second season, and he saw consistent play as the first guard off the bench (18.0 minutes per game, 48.4 FG%, 89.3 FT%, 3.6 assists, 8.4 points). During the offseason, he was rewarded for his production with a three-year $19 million contract. This season, Payne will continue to be called on to back up Chris Paul at point guard, but he can also play alongside Paul, as he did for stints during the playoffs. With Payne's role as backup point guard and offensive spark off the bench solidified, expect him to log solid sixth-man minutes. Payne actually has a close relationship with Monty Williams (who was associate head coach in 2015 when Payne was on the Thunder) and if Williams can squeeze even more out of the electric guard, fantasy owners who take a flier on Payne with a late-round pick may be rewarded with production even higher than last year.

Payne joined the Suns in 2019-20, appearing with his fourth team in five NBA seasons. He experienced his best statistical season to date, averaging 10.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.9 triples and 1.0 steals - all career highs, save the assists. This season, Payne will serve as the primary backup to new arrival Chris Paul, and Payne should be a key reserve in his sixth year. With Kelley Oubre out the door, there are additional scoring opportunities up for grabs, and Payne could provide a spark off the bench. He's a worthwhile add in deeper leagues, and he could become immediately relevant in 12-team leagues if Chris Paul is forced to miss time at any point.

Payne's 2018-19 campaign was certainly one to forget. After making 31 appearances (12 starts) with the Bulls to start the season, he was waived in January. Shortly after, he signed a pair of 10-day contracts with the Cavaliers but wasn't kept around for the rest of the season, and with that, his fourth NBA season had reached its conclusion. Across his 40 total appearances, Payne averaged 6.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists across 17.8 minutes per game while shooting a career-low 29.8 percent from three. He will look to get a fresh start in 2019-20 with the Raptors after signing a two-year deal with the defending champs. However, barring injury to either Kyle Lowry or Fred VanVleet, opportunities will certainly be hard to come by for Payne this season. That said, given that Lowry rarely ever plays a full season and VanVleet is coming off an injury-plagued campaign of his own, Payne should sparingly have the chance to log some backcourt minutes this coming season. But overall, he doesn't carry much value in terms of his likely production.

Injuries have slowed Payne’s development through his first three campaigns. However, the former 14th overall pick was able to start 14 games for the Bulls last season, averaging 9.4 points, 5.6 assists and 3.3 rebounds across 26.5 minutes in that role. That said, with Kris Dunn a lock to start at point guard, Payne will probably be limited to exclusively a bench role this season, where he averaged 8.1 points, 3.2 assists and 2.1 rebounds during 2017-18. Efficiency remains a problem for the Murray State product, as he’s yet to shoot over 41 percent in a season. Until that aspect of his game sees improvement, Payne will probably only have Fantasy value in deeper points formats, including DFS.

Payne opened the 2016-17 season with the Thunder, but missed a large chunk early on while recovering from a pair of fractures in his right foot. After playing just 20 games in Oklahoma City, he was eventually dealt to Chicago at the trade deadline, although that didn't help his value as a Fantasy commodity considering the presence of both Rajon Rondo and Jerian Grant. Payne ended up taking part in just 11 games with Chicago, averaging a meager 4.9 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists across 12.9 minutes. Moving forward to the 2017-18 season, Rondo is no longer in the fold at point guard, but the Bulls brought over Kris Dunn in the Jimmy Butler trade. Dunn is currently the favorite to start at point guard and Grant is still around as well, which means Payne will likely be buried once again. Unless an injury occurs, Payne should be nothing more than the team's third point guard, though there's always a chance he unseats Grant for the backup role with a strong training camp.

Payne was the Thunder's first-round pick this offseason, taken with the 14th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. As a sophomore point guard at Murray State last season, he averaged 20.2 points, 6.0 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 0.5 blocks in 32 minutes per game. Payne is 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, a below-average size in the NBA, but boasts a wingspan of 6-foot-7 inches, which should help make up for his lack of height on defense. Although he has a thin frame and isn't a high flier, Payne is an intelligent point guard with excellent passing skills. During a pre-draft workout with the Nuggets, Payne fractured his ring finger and was not able to participate in the Las Vegas Summer League. He needs to expand his range out to the NBA line, as he shot 45 percent from the field and 35 percent from three. He's expected to be healthy for training camp, so we'll get a look at him in preseason, but Payne's rookie season will likely be spent in the D-League and playing spot minutes as the third-string point guard behind Russell Westbrook and D.J. Augustin.