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Chicago Bulls: Meeting The 3 Newest Members

By Allana Tachauer

Feb 25, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) and Chicago Bulls guard Cameron Payne (22) battle of the ball during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) and Chicago Bulls guard Cameron Payne (22) battle of the ball during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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2017 NBA Trade Deadline
Feb 1, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cameron Payne (22) shoots the ball over Chicago Bulls forward Cristiano Felicio (6) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Cameron Payne

A Tennessee native, 22-year-old Cameron Payne played two years at Murray State University. As a freshman, he averaged 16.8 points, 5.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals a game, earning both first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors and OVC Freshman of the Year.

He then went onto win OVC Player of the Year as a sophomore after averaging 20.2 points, 6.0 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 steals per contest.

Payne then decided it was time to declare himself eligible for the NBA Draft and was selected No. 14 overall by the Thunder in 2015.

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    • Unfortunately, since then, his performance has been lackluster.

    Having spent some time in the D-League with the Thunder’s affiliate team, the Oklahoma City Blue, Payne saw time in only 52 games last season and averaged just 5.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists a matchup.

    He did close out the year on a high note though, totaling 17 points, three rebounds, seven assists and a steal against the San Antonio Spurs.

    Payne had to undergo foot surgery for a fractured firth metatarsal the following summer, an injury that happened again at the start of 2016-17. He rejoined the team in January, leading him to compete in just 20 more games with the Thunder before being traded to Chicago.

    During that time he averaged 5.3 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per contest, a slight improvement from his rookie year.

    He also continued to show flashes of potential, recording 15 points, a rebound, two assists and a steal against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Feb. 9.

    Therefore, it is way too early to write off the young buck just yet.

    With the right coaching and teammates, in the proper system, Payne can certainly flourish into a talented point guard. The question is whether or not the Bulls are it for him.

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