The 2018 NBA Manifesto
Cameron Payne
PG – 6’3, 185lbs - 23 years old – 3 years of experience
A fairly terrible stretch for Payne saw him end his rookie season poorly, then hurt his foot, then play badly for two teams in his sophomore season, then have a terrible summer league, and then follow it all up with another foot injury that kept him out of the majority of his third season. Expectations, inevitably, were thus lowered.
It is good, then, that he surpassed them. As the depth chart opened up in front of him, the expectations lowered further as the egregiously tanking Bulls wanted as little go right as possible. Playing carefree and without looking over his shoulder seemed to help Payne, who played pretty well on both ends in his late-season audition.
The good version of Payne looked at home playing the higher-tempo Hoiball that Chicago finally got into throughout the season, and had a knack for getting all the way to the rim. He needs to finish better once there, especially since he went about 1-89 on the season with floaters, and he completely avoids contact if he can. Yet an improved catch-and-shoot outside shot made for much improved scoring efficiency, which paired well with his good defensive reads and solid playmaking. More development is needed, yet the low bar was comfortably cleared, and Payne has earned another year to truly establish his rotation credentials going forward.
Although he needs to stay healthy, of course.
Player Plan: Final year of rookie scale salary. Keep, test, re-examine at season’s end.
Read full article
PG – 6’3, 185lbs - 23 years old – 3 years of experience
A fairly terrible stretch for Payne saw him end his rookie season poorly, then hurt his foot, then play badly for two teams in his sophomore season, then have a terrible summer league, and then follow it all up with another foot injury that kept him out of the majority of his third season. Expectations, inevitably, were thus lowered.
It is good, then, that he surpassed them. As the depth chart opened up in front of him, the expectations lowered further as the egregiously tanking Bulls wanted as little go right as possible. Playing carefree and without looking over his shoulder seemed to help Payne, who played pretty well on both ends in his late-season audition.
The good version of Payne looked at home playing the higher-tempo Hoiball that Chicago finally got into throughout the season, and had a knack for getting all the way to the rim. He needs to finish better once there, especially since he went about 1-89 on the season with floaters, and he completely avoids contact if he can. Yet an improved catch-and-shoot outside shot made for much improved scoring efficiency, which paired well with his good defensive reads and solid playmaking. More development is needed, yet the low bar was comfortably cleared, and Payne has earned another year to truly establish his rotation credentials going forward.
Although he needs to stay healthy, of course.
Player Plan: Final year of rookie scale salary. Keep, test, re-examine at season’s end.
