The New York Knicks continue to add to their roster, as they made another signing. Shams Charania reported that the Knicks signed Cameron Payne to a one-year, $3.1 million contract. Payne will presumably play back-up to Jalen Brunson at the point guard position over the next season.
Free agent guard Cam Payne has agreed to a one-year, $3.1 million deal with the New York Knicks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. pic.twitter.com/r7wuw1HuMM
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 15, 2024
Cameron Payne spent last season initially with the Milwaukee Bucks, before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Patrick Beverley. He averaged 7.4 points, 2.6 assists, and 1.5 rebounds. Payne has shown that he can score and lead the second unit effectively.
Payne has struggled with some legal trouble in the past few weeks, as he was arrested recently outside his Scottsdale home for providing the wrong name to police officers. Some may have speculated that the arrest would have impacted his future in the NBA, but clearly, that doesn’t seem to be the case so far.
Payne will continue to play for an Eastern Conference powerhouse, the Knicks, as they look to make a push to win the NBA championship. The Knicks are considered one of the favorites to make it out of the Eastern Conference, alongside the champion Boston Celtics, and the Philadelphia 76ers, who recently added Paul George to their roster.
It is unlikely that Payne will play a lot of minutes for the Knicks, but could prove to be a solid rotation piece who can take the load off the rest of the guards on the roster when they go to take a seat.
What Is The Ceiling For The Knicks?
The Knicks continue to tinker with their roster, as they’ve made some adjustments to their wage bill. Recently, Jalen Brunson took a major pay cut to help the team, signing a $156.5 million contract over four years. This deal saves the Knicks about $28 million a year in cap space as compared to the $269 million max deal he could have signed.
Furthermore, it appears newly-acquired Mikal Bridges is also open to taking a pay cut to help the team acquire better players around them. With the cap flexibility provided to them by their big stars taking smaller deals, the Knicks can help bring some solid options to the roster that can help bolster the squad ahead of the new season.
The Knicks are looking to improve on their performance in the last two seasons and make it to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. Coach Tom Thibodeau has been a revelation in this role, and has brought out the best in his players in a way that Knicks fans have been clamoring for.
The Knicks want to capitalize on the window they have right now, especially the financial flexibility provided to them by their stars. Jalen Brunson is eligible to sign a $418 million deal in 2029, so the Knicks will want to secure a championship or at least a few serious playoff runs before that time.
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