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Cameron Payne, Point Guard, Murray State, 6’2″, 20 years old
Cameron Payne’s offensive game is well balanced for a point guard out of a mid-major school. He has an understanding of how to score the ball when controlling possession. Scoring-wise, Payne can hit enough threes from the perimeter to keep his defender honest, although he can be prone to taking bad shots. He is also good at shifting gears to slice his way into the lane, where he has a nice floater that he can use (sometimes too much) to score over lengthy defenders. He threw multiple half-court over-the-top passes to teammates streaking for easy layups or dunks. Out of the pick-and-roll, Payne can do a lot of damage. He is patient coming off of the pick, and knows how to stick the defender to his back hip to buy extra time. He consistently makes the correct decision when coming off the screen, but he can have trouble getting the ball in the hoop from the paint area. He won’t have nearly as many offensive opportunities in the NBA as he had at Murray State, but there’s no reason to think he won’t adjust.
Payne’s defensive game is a roller coaster — it has a lot of highs and a lot of lows to it. The quality length that Payne has helps him as a defender, and gives him the potential to really turn into a defensive force. He has quick hands and takes (mostly) calculated gambles. He showed off his lateral quickness against lesser opponents, but it seems to be there regardless. Despite the potential, Payne can really zone out during whole possessions. He will get caught ball-watching and his man will slip right by him for a good look at the basket. When Payne is locked-in, he can be a defensive difference-maker. When he is just floating on defense, he can cost his team points, especially against professionals.
Payne certainly has the potential to become a quality starter in this league, and maybe even an All-Star caliber player if he develops his game and loses some bad habits.
It is tough to pick out one “strength” of Payne’s because of his balanced play, but in the end, it is his basketball IQ. The smart guard’s decision on both ends of the court usually end in positive points for his team, and can even stop a run by the opposing team. The IQ helps him in those pick-and-roll situations, too. Payne’s lack of consistency on both ends of the floor is slightly concerning. He can be a streaky shooter and be prone to taking bad shots; his defensive concentration isn’t always keen.
Payne’s game mirrors Dallas Mavericks point guard Rajon Rondo’s in a few different ways. Both players are extremely intelligent when it comes to the game of basketball. Rondo’s former teammate, and fan favorite, Brian Scalabrine said on SportsNation recently that Rondo was one of the smartest players he’s ever played with. Rondo is also efficient out of the pick-and-roll, much like Payne. Rondo is a better athlete than Payne, but Payne is a better shooter. Payne’s potential matches up with what Rondo has done in his career.
One of my favorite players in this draft, Payne will be ready to come off the bench and give valuable minutes right away as a rookie. In the right situation, he could be starting his first year in the league.
Main Photo via hoopshabit.com
