According to the latest NBA rumors, the Milwaukee Bucks are expected to pursue free agent veteran guard Cameron Payne after Wednesday’s blockbuster trade to acquire Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers.

After adding Lillard, the Bucks might as well sign the Murray State product. In July, the Phoenix Suns traded Payne, $5.6 million cash, and a 2025 second-round draft pick to the San Antonio Spurs for a 2024 second-rounder.

On Sept. 12, the San Antonio Spurs waived the 6-foot-1 guard to open a roster spot. Payne, 29, is reportedly interested in joining a contender that will offer him a larger role.

Following Lillard’s trade, NBA betting sites are listing the Milwaukee Bucks as the No. 1 favorite to win next season’s 2024 championship. Sportsbooks are still showing great odds for the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, and Phoenix Suns.

The Milwaukee Bucks keep expenses neutral by sending out Jrue Holiday and Grayson Allen and bringing in Damian Lillard. Tax penalty is still projected at $50 million.

They also opened a roster spot so they could sign a backup point guard, like Cameron Payne.

— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) September 27, 2023

Other teams targeting Cameron Payne include the Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, and Cleveland Cavaliers. Now is the perfect time for Milwaukee to make a move.

Moreover, Payne was selected 14th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2015 NBA Draft. The Tennessee native has played for OKC (2015-17), the Chicago Bulls (2017-19), Cavaliers (2018-19 season), and the Suns (2019-23).

NBA Rumors: Milwaukee Bucks are aiming to replace Grayson Allen with a backup veteran guard, like Cameron Payne

While with the Suns, the former Cavalier served as a backup point guard to Chris Paul for three seasons. Payne signed a three-year, $19 million contract with the Suns in August 2021.

Additionally, Payne made 12 starts in 58 appearances with Phoenix in the 2021-22 season. He averaged career highs of 10.8 points and 4.9 assists per game while shooting 40.9% from the floor and 33.6% outside the arc.

Last season, the guard made 15 starts in 48 games with the Suns. Payne logged 10.3 points, 2.2 boards, 4.5 assists, and 20.2 minutes per game. Plus, he shot 41.5% from the field and 36.8% from downtown.

I’m begging, Jon, sign Payne.https://t.co/d5NPSGKyiN

— Bucks Film Room (@BucksFilmRoom) September 28, 2023

In Phoenix’s 130-119 win over the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 16, 2022, he recorded a then-career-high 29 points, three rebounds, seven assists, and one block in 34 minutes as a starter. Plus, he shot 9-of-17 (52.9%) from the floor and knocked down six 3-pointers.

During the 2023 NBA Playoffs, the guard posted a career-high 31 points in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Denver Nuggets. However, Denver won that matchup 125-100 away to clinch the series.

Other NBA rumors are on the main page.

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Chris Finch is about to begin his third full season coaching the Timberwolves next month, as he’s excited to see his players growth during the summer. The Minnesota franchise has been out of the title-contending picture for well over a decade now, but last campaign they were at least able to qualify for the playoffs with a 42-40 mark.

The 53-year-old trainer admitted to feeling satisfied with the roster moves made by his administration this offseason, as well as recovering star players like Karl-Anthony Towns back from injury.

“What I like is, we were able to add a little backcourt and wing depth with Shake [Milton] and Troy [Brown Jr.] coming in, guys who are versatile and help fill our roster needs,” he said. “Obviously getting healthy — getting KAT back healthy — and then taking what we learned through the moments when we were all together last year and then build, be better prepared going into this season with the two bigs.

“We’re really excited about all our guys who played this summer internationally and certainly, Anthony’s continued emergence there.”

With the Wolves beginning training camp this week… Chris Finch on Anthony Edwards’ summer: pic.twitter.com/d3nqqyZjsX

— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) September 25, 2023

As for rising star Anthony Edwards, who many dub as the next player who will dominate the league, his coach feels proud to have seen him lead Team USA through many games this summer. “I believe so. I think, coupled with his personality, it’s also kind of natural for him to handle these dynamics,” Finch said.

When asked if he seems too eager to step up and take spotlight in Minnesota, his trainer believes the 22-year-old is much more mature than he’s perceived.

“No, I don’t feel that at all. He naturally works hard for his teammates. Wants to see them succeed. Wants to bring them along with his success. And I think he still understands that he still has room to grow. He knows he doesn’t know it all, doesn’t have it all figured out. At the same time, he knows he needs his teammates to help him get there,” Finch made clear.

The Wolves coach addressed the belief that Rudy Gobert received too much blame for the team’s failures

Last season, the expectation around Rudy Gobert was enormous. You can argue that he didn’t live up to his potential in his first campaign in Minnesota, but probably received too much blame when his squad wasn’t performing.

According to coach Finch, the French center should improve this season now that Towns is healthy again.

“Yeah, going into last season, we felt like it would really take 40 or 50 games to really catch a rhythm with it all. And with that span of time, you’re going to see a lot of defenses, schemes, coverages, things you’re going to have to adjust to. So you’d have a frame of reference going forward. And we really didn’t have that,” he explained.

In the video above, check out J.J. Redick’s recent interview with the Minnesota trainer as they talk about his journey coaching the Wolves.

“We were trying to figure it out for 20 games when he got hurt, and it was some good, some bad,” Finch kept defending Rudy. “Then when he came back at the end of the season, it was literally ‘Get in, fit in and try to figure it out on the fly. And he did a good job for the most part of just trying to find his own rhythm. It wasn’t disruptive. But we didn’t optimize it.”

The Miami Heat have signed free agent guard R.J. Hampton to a two-way contract, according to reports. Hampton, 22, was selected 24th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Following the draft, the Bucks traded the former National Basketball League (NBL) star to the Denver Nuggets. In 25 games off the bench with Denver in his rookie 2020-21 season, he averaged 2.6 points and 2.0 rebounds.

The Nuggets traded Hampton to the Magic in March 2021. In 26 appearances with Orlando, the guard logged 11.2 points, 5.0 boards, and 2.8 assists per game. He also shot 43.9% from the floor and 31.9% from 3-point range.

Per a few NBA betting sites, the Miami Heat hold seventh-shortest odds to win next season’s 2024 championship. Sportsbooks are showing better odds for the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics in the East.

OFFICIAL: The Miami HEAT have waived Jamaree Bouyea and Caleb Daniels and signed Jon Elmore and Cheick Diallo. Following those roster moves, the HEAT waived Elmore and signed RJ Hampton to a Two-Way Contract.

More info ⬇️ https://t.co/VTZQC16M1B

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) September 27, 2023

Hampton was then named the NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for May. It was the first time a Magic player won the award since Elfrid Payton in 2015.

In the 2021-22 season, Hampton made 14 starts in 64 games. The Texas native averaged 7.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while shooting 38.3% from the floor and 35% beyond the arc.

Miami Heat sign guard R.J. Hampton to a two-way contract; Hampton joins two-way players Dru Smith and Jamal Cain

On April 10, 2022, in the Magic’s 125-111 win over the Miami Heat, the guard recorded a then-career-high 21 points in 33 minutes of action. He finished 8-of-16 (50%) shooting from the floor and 4-of-7 (57.1%) from downtown.

Additionally, Hampton averaged 5.7 points, 1.5 boards, 1.3 assists, and 13.9 minutes per game in 26 games with the Magic in the 2022-23 season. However, Orlando waived him on Feb. 21, 2023.

Days later, the guard inked a deal with the Detroit Pistons. Of course, Hampton made three starts in 21 appearances with the Pistons last season, averaging 7.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and 18.5 minutes per contest.

Diallo is an Exhibit 10 camp tryout contract. So Heat remain at NBA maximum of 21 for camp. Two-ways now are: Dru Smith, Jamal Cain and RJ Hampton. https://t.co/KzG5QjYW9W

— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) September 27, 2023

In Detroit’s 123-108 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on April 5, the guard scored a career-high 27 points in 35 minutes off the bench. Along with posting five rebounds, two assists, and one block, he shot 9-of-15 (60%) from the field and drained five 3-pointers.

Now, Hampton will spend time with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Miami Heat’s G League affiliate. The undrafted player joins guard Dru Smith and forward Jamal Cain as Miami’s two-way signees. A two-way contract can be converted into a standard deal.

Before adding Hampton, the Heat waived Jamaree Bouyea, Caleb Daniels, and Jon Elmore.

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