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Thunderous Thoughts: Please Get Healthy Cam Payne, We Need You

By Jeremy Lambert

Jan 19, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cameron Payne (22) reacts to a play in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cameron Payne (22) reacts to a play in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 11, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cameron Payne (22) participates in shooting drills prior to a game against the Boston Celtics at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cameron Payne (22) participates in shooting drills prior to a game against the Boston Celtics at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

A weekly look at the OKC Thunder complete with sometimes analysis and thoughts.

I’m not sure Cam Payne will ever play basketball again. Three months ago, the Thunder announced that Payne would be out for at least 6-8 weeks and there would be an update at that time. Thunder fans are still waiting for that update.

The most we’ve seen is Payne shooting set shots during warm-ups. No reports on him dribbling, running, or doing anything that a competent basketball player needs to do. This scenario feels oddly familiar, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.

No matter what your opinion on Payne is, I think all Thunder fans agree that he’s a pretty important piece to the OKC puzzle.

Nov 20, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cameron Payne (22) on the court prior to game against the Indiana Pacers at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cameron Payne (22) on the court prior to game against the Indiana Pacers at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

A healthy Payne gives OKC a solid back-up point guard who knows the offense, can get to the rim, is a solid shooter, and can create his own shot. It moves Semaj Christon to the third point guard role, which is a role he’s still under qualified for. Aside from Russell Westbrook and Victor Oladipo, OKC doesn’t have a single wing player who create their own shot.

That’s why Payne is so vital to this team.

It not only makes the second unit a bit more tolerable, it takes pressure off of Westbrook. Even when Semaj is good, which happened once in Boston and probably won’t happen again this year, the pressure is still on Westbrook to do everything because Semaj can’t space the floor.

A healthy Payne also creates a trade opportunity. I’m sure there is a dumb NBA GM out there who would have no problem trading for an injured player. The Knicks traded for Derrick Rose. Payne is only 22 and should make a full recovery. But most GMs will want to see a guy in action before they deal any current piece. And Thunder GM Sam Presti likely wants to see Payne in action so he can properly determine his value.

Related Story: Five Small Forwards who Would Fit Well with OKC

Right now, Payne is a 22-year-old point guard from a small school who just completed his first season. He was okay as a rookie, but coaching mismanagement caused him to hit a wall in the second half of the season. In the offseason, he got bigger and stronger.

He looked good in Summer League, especially with the way he attacked the basket and finished in traffic. But we don’t really know how good he is, or how good he can be, until we see him as the true back-up point guard playing a minimum of 15-20 minutes a night.

Teams may like Payne’s potential, and Presti can get decent value out of his potential. However, he’d get much more value out of results AND potential.

Above all, a healthy Payne means the return of Westbrook and Payne pre-game dancing. I’m sure they still do it, but one guy being in a suit just doesn’t make it quite as fun.

Next: Comparing the Thunder to the 88-89 Bulls

Other OKC Thunder Thoughts

*Victor Oladipo might be OKC’s MVP given the way the team has fallen apart in these last two games without him.

*I like Anthony Morrow, I want him to be good, but if he’s not making threes, he’s a guy you can’t play. While he’s more than a spot up shooter, when his shot isn’t falling, he begins forcing everything and making bad decisions. I’d like to see Donovan go back to Alex Abrines for a few games. Could it really be any worse?

More from Thunderous Intentions

*Why do people think Joffrey Lauvergne is good? Am I missing something? He’s serviceable, but it really looks like OKC got rid of the wrong big man in acquiring Jerami Grant.

*Andre Roberson would be 100% better offensively if he made free throws. I’ve accepted that he’ll never be a good shooter. But you gotta make your free throws. Do what Steven Adams did. Have someone hit you every time you miss. When you’re making free throws, you’re far more confident in all areas offensively. You don’t think about those lay-ups and getting fouled because you know that if you get fouled, you’ll get the two points anyway. Free throw shooting seems like the easiest thing for a NBA player to fix considering that you don’t need anyone in the gym with you to improve. Of all the things that frustrate me as a Thunder fan, poor free throw shooting might be the biggest.

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