Minnesota Timberwolves: Cameron Payne is worth a contract

The Minnesota Timberwolves need to fill in their guard rotation with players that can contribute immediately.

The Minnesota Timberwolves will be on the search for legitimate rotational players this summer.

Finding guys that can defend in space as well as facilitate and shoot will be difficult – but it is most certainly possible. The past month, the majority of NBA players have been secluded in the ‘Bubble’, where the league’s restart plan is taking place.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Cameron Payne is worth a contract

One of the breakout players over the past two weeks has been Suns’ point guard Cameron Payne, who was signed just prior to the NBA’s restart. Payne had been in and out of the NBA over the past two seasons and played for a team in China as well as averaging 23/5/7 for the Texas Legends in the G League.

Despite his very recent return to NBA action, it looks as though he has become an increasingly reliable guard. In eight games for the Suns in the ‘Bubble’, he averaged 11 points (49/52/86 splits), four rebounds, and three assists (1.4 turnovers) while also providing above-average defense.

Cameron Payne is a huge risk. However, he also brings quality abilities on both ends of the floor. There was an extremely small sample size for Payne this past season (only eight games!), but he was part of the reason the Suns had so much success, winning every single game. Payne had a +24.2 net rating in those eight games.

For the Timberwolves, Payne would be a great complement to both D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley. In 113 minutes sharing the floor with Devin Booker (someone comparable to either player), net points for the Suns went up nearly 30 points, assist percentage went up by almost 4-percent, rebounding also went up, and turnovers went down. Having Payne play alongside a guard that can score at an efficient clip would not only benefit Russell/Beasley, but also the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Payne is not going to command much money, either. The most he is probably going to net is a one-year “prove it” deal, and for a Timberwolves team that desperately needs to hit on talent, Payne might be worth that risk.