The Sixers are reportedly bringing back a familiar face to the NBA.
Cameron Payne will sign a rest-of-the-season contract after being bought out by Serbian club Partizan Belgrade, Marc Stein reported Monday.
Payne had a good first stint with the Sixers in the final months of the 2023-24 season, averaging 9.3 points and 3.1 assists as a high-paced, high-energy bench guard with a quirky, confident game. He also had bright moments in the team’s first-round playoff series loss to the Knicks, including an 11-point outing on 4-for-7 shooting in the Sixers’ Game 3 win.
The 31-year-old lefty was certainly a well-liked teammate, too.
“He’s so positive,” Tyrese Maxey said after Payne’s Game 3 performance. “Everybody says I’m positive, but he’s extremely positive. He’s just jumping around, having a great time.
“He makes you want to go out there and really compete with your brothers. And he’s always vocal on the bench. … He’s always telling everybody, ’Stay aggressive, stay ready, go out there and be who you are.’ So we appreciate him for being who he was tonight.”
Over 10 games this season for Partizan Belgrade in the EuroLeague, Payne posted 12.4 points and 3.9 assists per contest.
The 31-year-old lefty may very well have an opportunity to play rotation minutes with the 30-24 Sixers. The team’s guard depth was problematic in its final two games before the trade deadline, especially with Quentin Grimes sidelined by an illness.
Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said he planned to add at the trade deadline after dealing away Jared McCain, but nothing “moved the needle.” Whether or not Payne does that, he’ll be back in a place he knows well.