76ers Sign Cam Payne For The Remainder Of The Season
Cameron Payne #22 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks during Round 1 Game 6 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2024 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Philadelphia 76ers have a new backup point guard.
After shipping off former first-round pick Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the NBA Trade Deadline, the 76ers finally replaced McCain, signing former 76er Cam Payne to a contract for the remainder of the 2026 season. Payne, who was playing for Partizan Belgrade in Serbia, was able to work a buyout so that he was able to return to the NBA.
This isn’t the first time Payne has joined the 76ers for the second half of a season, as back in 2024, he was acquired at that year’s trade for Patrick Beverly. In his first game as a 76er, he dropped 20 points and six assists in a loss to the Hawks.
Following the McCain trade at the NBA Trade Deadline last week, the 76ers have been in the market for a backup point guard and have finally settled on Payne. Former Bull and Laker Lonzo Ball was another name that the 76ers were interested in.
The 76ers will send Partizan Belgrade $875,000 of the $1.75 million buyout fee. Payne appeared in 15 games for Partizan Belgrade, averaging 10.8 points and 3.8 assists. Meanwhile, with Philadelphia, Payne will earn the prorated veteran’s minimum for the remainder of the season, keeping the 76ers under the first apron.
Over his career, Payne has spent the majority of his time as the team’s backup point guard, most notably backing up Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City and Devin Booker in Phoenix. Payne will slide into a similar role behind All-Star starter and MVP candidate Tyrese Maxey.
Matt Brown
Matt has been a Philadelphia sports fan all his life and spent four years at Penn State University majoring in Broadcast Journalism and minoring in Sports Studies. He previously covered Penn State’s field hockey, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball teams while writing for a Penn State blog called Onward State. He has now covered the Phillies, Eagles, and Sixers for Philly Sports Reports since October 2024 and wants to pursue a career in Sports Journalism.
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