The New York Knicks reportedly bolstered their roster on Monday night.
According to Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes, the Knicks signed Cameron Payne to a one-year deal. The Athletic’s Shams Charania said the guard will make $3.1 million.
The Knicks will mark Payne’s seventh NBA team since entering the league as the No. 14 pick in 2015. He started the 2023-24 season with the Milwaukee Bucks before a mid-season trade to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Payne collectively averaged 7.4 points and 2.6 assists in 78 games for those Eastern Conference contenders. He averaged 12.2 minutes off the bench in Philadelphia’s first-round postseason loss to New York.
Payne previously made four consecutive playoff appearances with the Phoenix Suns. With Phoenix, he averaged more points (9.8), assists (4.2), and rebounds (2.6) than with any of his other teams.
The 6-foot-3 lefty gives the Knicks a capable perimeter shooter. Payne made 39.0 percent of his three-point attempts last season, upping his career average to 36.9.
New York had previously strengthened its backcourt by acquiring Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets and drafting Marquette point guard Tyler Kolek with the No. 34 pick. Miles McBride returns after delivering a scoring spark throughout his third NBA season.
Jalen Brunson also did the Knicks a massive favor by signing a four-year, $156.5 million extension a year before he was eligible to make up to $269.1 million. That allows the organization to stay below the salary cap’s second-apron level, avoiding stricter free-agent and trading restrictions as they seek to build a legitimate title contender.
Related: Report: Knicks Star Jalen Brunson Agrees To ‘Unprecedented’ Contract Extension