Knicks’ new PG will play ‘a lot of minutes’ as Brunson’s backup

According to SNY Knicks insider Ian Begley, new New York Knicks player Cam Payne is expected to take on the role of backup point guard next season.

“Obviously the Knicks are looking for a ball handler — sometimes having Payne replace Jalen Brunson and have a ball handler in that second unit,” a Knicks insider said on “Begley’s Mailbag” on July 18.

“They see (Miles McBride) as an off-ball defender who can handle the ball when he needs to. That’s why you added Cam Payne. How much minutes is he going to get? He’s going to get a lot of minutes in that second unit — as an on-field leader for that backup unit, which we think is going to be Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo and maybe McBride. That’s where he’s at. He’s going to get a lot of consistent minutes. I don’t think he would have come here without the idea of ​​getting a lot of minutes.”

“I haven’t heard specifically, but I would be surprised because I’m sure he has some suitors on the open market. So yeah, the Knicks are adding a much-needed ball handler to the roster, and we’ll see how it goes as we get into training camp and the preseason.”

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Reserve point guard tested in playoffs

Payne has agreed to join the Knicks on a veteran-minimum contract, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on July 15.

The move reunites him with his friend and former Phoenix Suns teammate Mikal Bridges, whom the Knicks acquired in a blockbuster deal with the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for five first-round picks, including four unprotected picks, and a draft pick.

Payne was selected 14th overall in 2015. But he spent the first five years of his professional career on and off in the NBA, before emerging as a key reserve. He replaced Hall of Famer Chris Paul and the Suns reached the 2020 NBA Finals.

Since then, Payne has made two playoff stops with the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers before coming to New York. Last season, Payne played a key role in the Sixers’ Game 3 victory over the Knicks in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The 29-year-old slugger hit three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points, three assists and two blocks off the bench.

In 58 playoff games over his first nine seasons in the NBA, Payne averaged 6.3 points and 2.3 assists.

The Knicks understood this and decided to sign him.

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Josh Hart greets Cam Payne with a playful greeting

Hart teased his new teammate and welcomed him in true Hart style.

“Say hi Terry,” Hart wrote on X after Payne signed with the Knicks.

According to TMZ, Hart’s joke about Payne was referring to his June 14 arrest in Arizona after he refused to give his real name and repeatedly referred to himself as Terry Johnson to police officers responding to his 911 call following an argument with his girlfriend.

Payne was charged with two separate crimes: refusing to give his real name and filing a false report with police, but was released shortly after, according to TMZ.

The veteran NBA point guard has not yet commented on his arrest.