Ranking every move by the Milwaukee Bucks during 2023 NBA off-season
By Dalton Sell
No. 7 – Signing Cameron Payne
For most of the off-season, backup point guard was a huge question mark for the Bucks, as they didn’t find an immediate replacement after letting Jevon Carter go. For a while, it seemed like they were ready to enter the season without a backup, as their roster was full. However, a major trade freed up a spot, which the Milwaukee Bucks used to sign Cameron Payne, a backup floor general.
Payne is a quality addition to this team. The guard cemented himself as a solid backup point guard over the last four seasons with the Phoenix Suns, having averaged a decent 9.8 points, 4.2 assists, and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 43.4 percent from the floor and 38.4 percent from behind the arc in 174 regular season games (28 starts). Numbers like that can certainly help this Milwaukee club.
It should also be noted that the Bucks got Payne on an incredibly team-friendly deal, having inked him to a one-year contract worth $2.9 million. For a player who fills a major hole on this roster and can undeniably help this offense when the starting point guard is off the floor, that’s a nice chess move by the front office to scoop up Payne off the market.
Payne isn’t a perfect player, as there are several looming questions about his defensive play and playoff productivity, but he’s still a good get for this team just days before training camp opened.