The unfortunate reality that comes with being a team that has not only held as many draft picks as the OKC Thunder, but also acquires a slew of quality talents through such means is that they eventually become incapable of holding onto the majority of prospects that come their way.
From eventual superstars and MVPs like James Harden to rising stud youngsters such as Tre Mann, throughout the years, Oklahoma City has parted ways with a ton of players who have gone on to reach enviable heights in their playing careers.
Of course, not all departees find themselves reaping the rewards of post-Thunder tenure success.
Former first-round selection Cameron Payne, in particular, currently finds himself struggling to keep his playing career alive, as he remains unemployed after nearly a month into NBA free agency.
While he may not have the star upside that either one of the aforementioned ballers clearly has, it's undeniable that the 30-year-old still deserves a roster spot somewhere in the association.
Ex-Thunder guard Cameron Payne deserves another shot in the Big Apple
Selected 14 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, Payne played one and a half seasons with the Thunder, averaging 5.1 points, 1.9 assists, and 1.5 rebounds in 77 games played before being shipped out to the Chicago Bulls via the Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott deal of 2017.
Since his departure, the point guard has found himself suiting up for six separate organizations where he's primarily played the role of offensive spark plug off the pine.
His most prominent seasons came while serving as a member of the Phoenix Suns (2019-2023), where he averaged 9.8 points and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 38.4 percent from distance and saw substantial minutes during their numerous deep playoff excursions, including their 2022 Finals run.
Most recently, Payne was found suiting up for the New York Knicks during their 51-win, Eastern Conference Finals-bound 2024-25 campaign. While he primarily played understudy to Jalen Brunson, the veteran found himself inserted into the starting lineup on five different occasions, with the Knicks posting a 4-1 record in these contests.
Despite what his somewhat pedestrian averages from last year (6.9 points and 2.8 assists on 36.3 percent shooting from deep) and lackluster pool of potential suitors may suggest, the point guard actually proved to be an overall positive contributor for New York, even finishing with the club's highest on-off net rating of 9.1.
Though the Knicks may have had a regime change as far as their coaching staff is concerned, this doesn't mean they need to fully refurbish their rotation.
While he may never have lived up to the lottery status the Thunder bestowed upon him when they snatched him up 10 years ago, it goes without saying that Cameron Payne still deserves to be an active participant within an NBA rotation.
There are far worse things the Knicks could do than have a familiar face and proven commodity such as him returning on a minimum-scale deal and serving as the 11 or 12 man within coach Mike Brown's scheme.