After being traded to the San Antonio Spurs earlier in the offseason, former point guard Cameron Payne of the Phoenix Suns is no longer a member of the organization.
In exchange for a protected 2024 second-round pick, Payne was traded for monetary considerations and a 2025 second-round pick (via New Orleans).
Payne discussed the relocation from the Valley during a recent Instagram live:
“I already miss Phoenix… They are trying to win the chip, and I admire that. However, I think they could have won a chip with me,” Payne remarked.
Suns GM James Jones spoke on why the team dealt Payne earlier this offseason:
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“(The Payne trade) was a part of a series of transactions that we made that we thought would give us roster balance and flexibility,” Jones said.
“Over the last three years, Cam has been a huge asset to us, but our team has evolved. Upon examining the players on the field, it is evident that they are large, defensively versatile, and long.
“You’re talking about (Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal) having the ball in their hands and being highly utilized when we thought about that position. I believe we now have the alternative kind of guard that we needed. However, we’re also willing to keep looking for ways to improve our guard position by incorporating those same defensive versatility qualities.
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