Jerry Stephens: Drafting Cameron Payne with the 14th overall pick excited a lot of Thunder fans, how do you think Cam has been settling in to his role so far this season with the team?
David Ramil: In all honesty, I was not one of those fans. I thought D.J. Augustin has been a good backup and, with Russell Westbrook, it’s hard to see why you’d need a point guard at all.
But general manager Sam Presti has again shown a keen eye for talent and Payne has proven me wrong. He started off getting much-needed experience with the team’s D-League affiliate, the OKC Blue. The benefit of having a team in the same city as the NBA squad has been obvious, with Payne going back-and-forth between both teams to continue learning the nuances of the pro game while continuing to build his skill set.
Even during the Summer League while Payne was nursing a hand injury, Coach Cheeks was sitting alongside of the rookie, explaining the basics of being a NBA point guard. Of course, none of this means anything if he doesn’t produce but that hasn’t been an issue. He’s bringing energy both on-and-off the court and has been a pleasant surprise with his long-distance shooting and ability to run the pick-and-roll.
Next: Jeremy Lamb Returns to OKC