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The New York Knicks have signed veteran guard Cameron Payne, the team announced in a press release.
Payne, 29, is 6-foot-3 and appeared in a combined 78 games last season with the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers. The Knicks are his seventh team.
In those 78 games last season, Payne averaged 7.4 points, 2.6 assists and 1.5 rebounds, shooting 43.2% from the field and 39.0% on 3-pointers.
New York has a pretty good point man already in starter Jalen Brunson and selected Tyler Kolek out of Marquette with its second-round draft pick. But Payne plays both guard spots, and is the ideal veteran off the bench for a winning team.
Payne’s deal is for one year, according to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report/TNT. He was traded at the deadline in February (along with the 2027 second-rounder) from the Bucks to the Sixers in exchange for Patrick Beverley.
With Philadelphia, Payne appeared in 31 regular-season contests and averaged 9.3 points and 3.1 assists in 19.4 minutes. But he didn’t receive as much time in the Sixers’ five playoff games.
Per Ian Begley of SNY.tv, the Knicks also considered Tyus Jones, another free-agent point guard, who spent this past season with the Washington Wizards.
In 48 games with the Phoenix Suns in 2022-23, Payne averaged 10.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists, shooting 42 percent from the field and 37 percent on 3-pointers. He was then acquired by the San Antonio Spurs in a trade with the Suns, before being waived shortly thereafter.
After the Oklahoma City Thunder selected Payne as the No. 14 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, he went on to play for the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Suns, before his stints last season with the Bucks and Sixers.
Knicks officially announce Cam Payne signing https://t.co/yZa7Z6DEWE
— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) July 16, 2024
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Key Celtics depth piece underwent knee surgery after season
Neemias Queta underwent an arthroscopic surgery on his left knee after the Celtics‘ season ended in May, the big man told Bobby Manning of CLNS Media. The procedure addressed a knee issue that has lingered for multiple seasons, according to Queta. Because the surgery occurred early in the offseason, he was able to resume on-court and conditioning work in July and hopes to suit up for Portugal in the EuroBasket tournament, which begins on Aug. 27. “It’s been good,” Queta said of his recovery process, per Manning. “We’ve been dealing with this stuff (since) a couple years ago. We just decided it was a great time for us to do it. We’re trying to get back to 100%. We feel pretty confident in the process and we’re just grateful that we were taken care of, and I want to make sure I’m healthy and get back to 100% and I feel like I’m on the right path to do that.” Queta, who turned 26 last month, set new career highs in 2024-25 by appearing in 62 games and averaging 13.9 minutes per contest. With Kristaps Porzingis missing some time for health reasons and Boston managing Al Horford‘s workload, Queta was a regular contributor and averaged 5.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. The Celtics traded Porzingis to Atlanta this offseason, Luke Kornet signed in San Antonio, and Horford isn’t expected to return to Boston, so there could be an opportunity for Queta to earn an even bigger role in 2025/26. Luka Garza and Xavier Tillman are among the other options in the frontcourt, but Queta – who has been working with Maine Celtics assistant Taaj Ridley – is aiming to get back to 100% soon and prove he deserves significant minutes this fall. “We’re getting there slowly but surely,” he told Manning. “We’re reconditioning our body, we’re figuring out ways to be athletic, ways to be out there moving well. We’re just trying to figure out the movement patterns to get back and I think it’s going well. I’m really confident in the work that I put in, the amount of hours that I put in and it’s gonna show.”
Michael Hage’s Dominance Clear at World Juniors Showcase
The World Junior Showcase showed the dominance of multiple Montreal Canadiens prospects this past week. After discussing Koivu’s play in the mini tournament earlier today, it is now time for a discussion on the 21st overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, Michael Hage. Much like his Finnish counterpart, the Canadian forward Hage stood out from his teammates throughout the showcase. Hage, who is arguably a top 3 prospect within the Montreal Canadiens pipeline, put on a show that should help him secure a role within Canada’s 2026 World Juniors team. The fact that he proved to be one of the best players for Canada this past week shows that not even getting an invite to the team’s final selection camp, despite a very strong freshman season at the University of Michigan, seemed silly, as even last year, he likely should have had a shot at making the team. Now that he managed to score a goal in all 4 games that he played for Canada at the World Juniors Showcase, there is almost no way that Canada can leave him off the roster. One of the most memorable moments throughout the whole tournament for Hage was definitely when he was in a scrum, mixing it up with his former Canadiens Development camp roommate, Aatos Koivu, as previously mentioned in my article from earlier today. Another amazing moment in that game was Hage’s goal, where he completely deked around the Finland goalie to put the puck in the net. It will be interesting to see where in the Canada lineup Hage will land, as a lot of notable names such as Michael Misa, Beckett Sennecke, and Tij Iginla did not play at the showcase. The good news is that the first two names may end up playing in the NHL, allowing a spot higher in the lineup for Hage. Another thing that will work well in Hage’s favour is that he is very versatile and can play on the wing or at centre for Canada. His coach even praised his “hard skills” for Canada during those four games he played. After watching Hage’s play over the last year, one thing is clear: he could be a play driver on whatever line he plays on for Canada. His game also seems like it will translate well at the pro level. Many may say that Hage must play a top 6 role for Canada, but the fact that he can play an aggressive style and has a strong defensive game could mean that he is also able to play in a bottom-six role if need be. The truth is it would be unlikely he would have to be on the bottom 6, but if the guys mentioned above aren’t in the NHL and are instead on the team, there is a chance that it could happen. This upcoming season with the Michigan Wolverines should be a big one where Hage could find his way in the Hobey Baker conversation if he improves on his 13 goals and 34 points in 33 games. The first half of the season will be telling for his place with Hockey Canada, whereas the 2nd half could also help him earn some time at the pro level. The way Hage has played since being drafted, it feels more like it’s more about when he’ll play for the Canadiens in a regular-season game, rather than if he will. Will Hage prove that he’s ready to play at the pro level this year at Michigan?
Minnesota Vikings roster move ahead of night practice raises major cause for concern for injured rookie
The Minnesota Vikings are set to have their annual night practice on Monday night, and just like last year, they have some news coming right before it's set to begin. This time, it's not quarterback J.J. McCarthy missing practice with an undiagnosed knee injury that ended his season. The Vikings signed tight end Nick Vannett and waived offensive tackle Marcellus Johnson Vannett has been around the block during the course of his nine year career. After being a third-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2016, the player who was once nicknamed "Baby Gronk," Vannett has played for eight teams. He was most productive in 2018 with the Seahawks, catching 29 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns. In 2024 with the Tennessee Titans, Vannett caught 17 passes for 135 yards and three touchdowns. He's been the number two or three tight end for the majority of his career. Even so, Vannett has started 53 of his 111 career games. This is the second time that the Vikings have added depth at the tight end position this offseason. Right before mandatory minicamp, they added Giovanni Ricci with sixth-round pick Gavin Bartholomew nursing a back injury. He is still on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which is a cause for concern as we move forward in the preseason. Vannett is another veteran to add in a room with multiple rookies who could learn a thing or two. Also, he can eat up some snaps during the course of the preseason to keep both T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver off the field. What does this mean for the Vikings and the tight end position? From the onset of the addition, Vannett is a threat to make the roster, as he's a versatile depth piece who can play a multitude of different roles on the offense. It could also spell disaster for Bartholomew, as his back injury could be worse than we realize, especially with Vannett being the second tight end that has been added in as many weeks.
Jordan Love’s surprising anecdote about Aaron Rodgers changes what everyone assumed
When Jordan Love was drafted by the Green Bay Packers, the media immediately made his relationship with Aaron Rodgers a rivalry. In a recent post on the Players’ Tribune, Jordan Love finally addressed the noise. Many were stunned by the Green Bay Packers’ decision to draft Jordan Love in 2020. It was the first round. Aaron Rodgers had just thrown for over 4,000 yards, and there was no indication that he was going to be hanging up his cleats anytime soon. The Packers made a move out of left field, selecting the developmental quarterback out of Utah State with the 26th pick in the first round. Jordan Love was immediately engulfed in a media circus with a legendary quarterback he hadn’t even met yet. The media wanted Rodgers and Love to be rivals, but a recent post from the heir himself denies the claim There are endless rumors in the media about Aaron Rodgers being a bad teammate. Some will claim that where there’s smoke, there’s fire, while others will deny the claim. Many have come to Rodgers’ defense against that claim, with stories of his leadership and support for his teammates. New York Jets defensive end Jermaine Johnson told one of those stories, explaining that the veteran QB helped him fly across the country when he needed surgery on his Achilles. In Green Bay, whispers of Rodgers refusing to support Jordan Love were everywhere. Now, five years into his career in the NFL, and with two years as a starter under his belt, Love took the time to show his appreciation for the veteran. In his post on the Player’s Tribune, Love recalled the night he was drafted. He said the Packers called and explained to him that they would be moving up to the 26th pick in order to select him. He was stunned and before he could take a breath, every question he was asked was about Aaron Rodgers. Love said: “before me and Aaron could even talk, the narrative was rolling. And it’s so crazy to me, because from the jump, Aaron was great with me. He laid out how he was in my same situation, and that he wanted to make sure there was no hostility. I told him I just wanted to learn and soak it all in.” Love had no problem being QB2. He said it was the ideal scenario. He was just 21 years old and coming into the league with a lot to learn. Behind Aaron, he was afforded the time that many rookie quarterbacks are not, often thrust into the starting lineup in Week 1 of their very first season. He had to learn how to handle adversity, the media, and command a locker room. He explained: “I got to watch Aaron and how he handled those situations, and that was invaluable.” Jordan Love barely played for the first three seasons of his career. Today, that’s extremely rare. Patrick Mahomes sat for one season before he started for the Kansas City Chiefs, and even that is considered an anomaly with the way the game moves on these days. Jordan Love, however, spent three years observing: “I also got to watch him spin that thing. There’s nothing like it. When him and Davante were out on that practice field, they wouldn’t miss. Literally. They had some kind of telepathic thing going on. Aaron would snap the ball, and he’d just glance over at Davante’s release, and within a split second, he knew where to put it — doot — back shoulder. Perfect. There was no check, no communication. Just a look.“ The Green Bay Packers quarterback revealed how much he learned from Rodgers. That in the league, the game is so much more than just playing, and that Rodgers was the master of manipulation. He closed the segment by saying that when he finally took over in 2023, his mom said: “Big shoes to fill. You going to be alright? You gotta play good, or they’ll get another quarterback.” So far, Jordan Love has done just fine, and 2025 could be a breakout year for the third-year starter. Jordan Love had front row seats for back-to-back MVPs, and one of the greatest duos in NFL history There are only two quarterback and wide receiver duos that have connected on more touchdowns than Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams. They are Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison, and Steve Young and Jerry Rice. Elite company. Jordan Love got to watch that partnership at practice every day, and then see it come to life on the field on game day. Rodgers may have been supportive of Love as a young quarterback, but he was still determined to show the Packers, and the rest of the league, that he could still play at an elite level. In Love’s rookie season, Rodgers threw 48 touchdown passes and just five interceptions, while earning the league MVP in the process. The following season he won the award again. He was playing the best football of his career, and Love was right there on the sidelines watching every snap. That has to mean something. There has to be value in studying those reps, and then sitting down with the man himself to watch the tape and understand what he saw. Jordan Love is poised for a big year in 2025, and it’s a beautiful touch to pay homage to the mentor he felt so fortunate to have. Barring any unforeseen injuries, the two will face one another for what may be the first and only time in their careers. The Green Bay Packers will play the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road on October 26th, on Sunday Night Football.
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