What Cam Payne Trade Means for Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns moved Payne to San Antonio for a second round pick, how does this impact Phoenix this season?

In a move that had been expected by Phoenix Suns insider John Gambadoro, the organization traded point guard Cam Payne (who had been with the franchise since the NBA bubble in 2020) to the San Antonio Spurs.

The terms of the deal are known to be Payne, a future second round pick, and cash to San Antonio. The Suns will receive a future second rounder that hasn't been dated yet. The looming question - how does this move affect Phoenix going forward?

Payne is on an expiring $6.5M contract.

The Suns will create a $6.5M trade exception and open up a roster spot.

The Payne salary will go into the Spurs cap space. https://t.co/Z0DvhG38Vh

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 16, 2023

Moving Payne saves Phoenix governor Mat Ishbia approximately $26 million on the luxury tax bill, according to ESPN front office expert Bobby Marks. The financial side likely played a large role, but it also became more evident in the past several days that Phoenix is sold on Jordan Goodwin as a high-upside backup point guard. Goodwin is bigger, more athletic, younger, and better defensively than Payne. It made sense for both sides to move on.

Suns general manager James Jones has also done a masterful job of recouping second round picks lost in the Bradley Beal trade. Phoenix has acquired seven second round picks since the Beal move (three from Orlando, three from Memphis, one from San Antonio). 

The Payne move opens up a $6.5 million dollar trade exception on top of the Dario Saric trade exception. The move off of Payne without a player in return also opens up a roster spot that was momentarily filled by the signing of former Magic center Bol Bol. This would lead one to believe that Jones isn't done making moves. 

The exceptions and replenished stock of second round picks, along with the continued possibility of moving off of Deandre Ayton could make for a very interesting two months leading up to media day in late September. 

The Murray State product must be acknowledged to close out. Payne averaged 9.8 points, 4.2 assists, and 2.6 rebounds in 174 games for Phoenix, but his impact was larger than the numbers. 

He joined Phoenix going into the Orlando bubble and added a spark to a rising team that was much needed. He embraced the city from the start and had a quality 2020-2021 season. He has several memorable moments and performances, ranging from filling in for Chris Paul in a resounding fashion in the 2021 Western Conference Finals, to the lob to Torrey Craig that set the roof off of Phoenix Suns arena in the 2021 Western Conference Semifinals.