Should the Milwaukee Bucks pursue free agent guard Cam Payne?

The Bucks still do not have a capable backup point guard.

© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Milwaukee Bucks have gone on record saying they’re comfortable heading to the season without a backup point guard playing behind All-Star guard Jrue Holiday. According to the team’s manager, Jon Horst, the Bucks have enough secondary ballhandlers to make it work.

However, this can be asking to play with fire, as an injury to Holiday that would sideline him for an extended period of time could leave the Bucks without any primary ballhandlers on the court.

Considering this, it’s worth noting that veteran guard Cameron Payne is available after being waived by the San Antonio Spurs. It’s unclear what the Bucks' view of Payne is, but he could be an intriguing option should Milwaukee decide to pursue him as a free agent.

The San Antonio Spurs are waiving veteran guard Cam Payne, sources tell ESPN. Payne recently arrived in trade from Suns and now gets a chance to join a contending team that can give him a bigger role. pic.twitter.com/cA13XSxp3j

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 11, 2023

Lean options

Outside of Holiday, the team’s other options at point guard are untested youngsters TyTy Washington and Lindell Wigginton. Payne, though, would make perfect sense for the Bucks. An eight-year-pro with over 50 games of playoff experience, Payne would provide the team with scoring punch and playmaking, averaging 10.3 points and 4.5 assists per game last season with the Suns.

Although his shot selection may sometimes be questionable, there’s no denying his ability to get into the paint and attack the basket. His skill set would mesh well with Milwaukee’s already-lethal offense, as he’d be able to take advantage of open looks created by reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and stretch defenses thin over the course of a full season.

Tough scenario

The chances of Payne landing in Milwaukee, though, are slim. The Bucks already boast of a full roster, and the only way to acquire Payne is to trade or waive someone. However, the team’s financial constraints deem those options largely unfeasible, and so Payne will likely remain a pipe dream for the Bucks’ faithful.