Former Suns PG Cameron Payne Reportedly Waived by Spurs
Former Phoenix Suns PG Cameron Payne now finds himself as a free agent, according to ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski. The San Antonio Spurs are waiving Payne after acquiring him just a few months ago in the summer.
Payne was traded from Phoenix alongside a 2025 second-round pick and cash considerations for a protected 2024 second-round pick back on July 19.
Payne - who was a backup point guard for years with the Suns - was fairly vocal about not wanting to leave Phoenix.
“Man, I love Phoenix, bro, I miss Phoenix already,” Payne said on Instagram live.
“I wish I was in Phoenix still but hey, it is where it is, man. They’re trying to win a chip and I respect it. I feel like they could’ve won a chip with me though 'cause like, I’m tough.”
At 29-years-old, Payne now hopes to land with a contending team. He nearly won the 2021 NBA Finals with Phoenix.
“(The Payne trade) was a part of a series of transactions that we made that we thought would give us roster balance and flexibility,” Suns general manager James Jones said. “Cam was tremendous for us for the last three years, but we have changed the identity of our team. When you look at the types of players that we have on the floor, they have size, defensive versatility, length.
“When we thought about that position, you’re talking about (Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal) having the ball in their hands and being high usage. We needed a different type of guard and I think we have that. But at the same time, we’re open to continue to try to figure out how to add those same traits, defensive versatility, at our guard position.”
The Suns have Bradley Beal and Jordan Goodwin as their point guards as they enter the 2023-24 season.
