Knicks to sign Cameron Payne to a one-year contract

The Knicks are signing reserve point guard Cameron Payne to a one-year contract, Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report and TNT tweets. 

The Knicks are using the veteran’s minimum exception to sign Payne, Ian Begley of SNY TV tweets. The contract will be worth approximately $3.1M.

Payne will immediately jump into the mix for backup minutes behind star floor leader Jalen Brunson.

Payne, 29, will be joining his seventh team since entering the league during the 2015-16 season. He split his time between the Bucks and Sixers last season.

Milwaukee traded Payne and a 2027 second-round pick to Philadelphia for Patrick Beverley at the trade deadline. With Milwaukee, Payne appeared in 47 games and averaged 6.2 points and 2.3 assists in 14.9 minutes. 

With the Sixers, Payne saw action in 31 regular-season contests, averaging 9.3 points and 3.1 assists in 19.4 minutes. He also appeared in a handful of Philadelphia’s playoff games.

The addition of Payne makes it less likely that second-round pick Tyler Kolek will be the primary backup for Brunson.

The Knicks had also expressed interest in free agent point man Tyus Jones, according to Begley. Payne’s playoff experience added to his appeal, Begley adds. The addition of Payne gives the Knicks 13 players on the roster, Begley notes, so at least one more move is coming.

Payne was arrested in Arizona this offseason after he made a false report and would not identify himself.