Cameron Payne was drafted with the 14th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. After averaging 20.2 points, 6.0 assists, and 1.9 steals a game at Murray State he was skilled enough to be a lottery pick. Payne was taken by the Thunder and so his NBA career started.
There was one major negative for being drafted by OKC: how could he ever get out of the shadows of two superstars? Payne will now have a better chance to shine since Kevin Durant is gone.
This is a chance that the Thunder will need him to take advantage of.
Cameron Payne's 2016-17 outlook
Chances are that Payne will be leading the Thunder's second unit this coming season. He is one of the few players on the team that can create his own shot as well as shots for others.
During his rookie campaign, Payne showed flashes of potential. He made 57 appearances, averaging 12.2 minutes per game with 5.0 points, 1.9 assists, and 1.5 rebounds per game. He also shot a decent 41-percent from the field.
The problem for Payne came on the defensive side of the ball. He was constantly proving that he was a rookie with his inability to know where to go and who to cover. It is essential for next season that Payne improves this aspect of his game. If he cannot, then he will be just another Thunder player who can only play one side of the ball.
The great thing for Cam is that he has two amazing mentors on his team in Russell Westbrook and Victor Oladipo. No one in the league is as aggressive Westbrook is on defense. Oladipo, on the other hand, plays a bit safer but is able to get physical with anyone. Payne also has a great guard coach to learn from in Mo Cheeks. The pieces are there for the young gun to learn and develop – he just has to put those pieces together.
The issue that comes with Payne this offseason is that he will not get much of a chance to practice. Payne is coming off a Jones Fracture surgery and it will take him some time to recover. If he is not able to recover quickly, then it will be a major set back for the Thunder as they'll lake a major piece off the bench.
Best case scenario for OKC
The best case scenario for OKC is that Payne reaches the potential of Reggie Jackson. When Jackson came off the bench for the team, they had a force to be reckoned in a guard who could start on several teams.
Payne does not play like Jackson now but he does have the opportunity to reach that level. If the Thunder are going to succeed in their post-Kevin Durant era then they will need Payne to step up. He's now one of the best three-point shooters on the team and needs to show early on next season that he can play with the big boys. If he cannot then the Thunder will be forced to find another offensive weapon for their second unit.
Even though he did not get all that much playing time last season, Payne is a part of the team's long-term plans. He is one of the few players that has a long flexible contract with the team. He is also one of the few who can get buckets.
Cameron Payne has the talent to be a difference maker in OKC, but he is now going to be rushed into it.
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