Bucks offer former Suns guard Payne a contract for next season

According to reports from well-known NBA reporter Sham Charania, the Milwaukee Bucks have officially signed a one-year contract with free agent 29-year-old guard Carmelo Payne. He will represent the Bucks in 2023 Until the 2024 NBA preseason.

Payne was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the 15th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Now he has 9 years of experience in his NBA career. He has played for the City Thunder, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns. He has been the main backup point guard for each team and can contribute on the front line. He is also an excellent defensive player.

The guard played 48 games for the Suns last season, averaging 10.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 0.7 steals in 20.2 minutes. The overall shooting rate was 41.5%, and the three-point shooting rate was 36.8%. He also scored 31 points for the Suns in the playoffs against the Denver Nuggets.

In order to free up the lineup and salary space this offseason, the Suns traded their main backup who had played for three seasons to the San Antonio Spurs. However, the Spurs decided to fire Payne due to the roster exceeding the maximum number of players and in order to develop young guards in the team.

The veteran guard also attracted the attention of several championship teams after entering the free agent market. After 33-year-old guard veteran Jrue Holiday joined the Boston Celtics from the Portland Trail Blazers, it was reported today that the 2021 NBA championship Bucks are willing to provide Payne with a one-year contract. News of the contract, the two parties have reached an agreement.

The Bucks hope that Payne's arrival can build a championship lineup with the new 33-year-old guard veteran Damian Lillard and the core 28-year-old forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (Antetokounmpo), and improve the substitutes in the new season. Guard depth to play a bigger role in the rotation.