A former Philadelphia 76ers veteran guard just might get an opportunity to continue his NBA run with the Sacramento Kings. Thanks to the retirement of Russell Westbrook, Cam Payne is garnering attention from the rebuilding franchise.
Although the Kings initially entered the 2026 NBA offseason with the intention of moving on from Westbrook, they eventually changed their stance. For quite a bit, it seemed the Kings were likely to get Westbrook back in the building to serve as a mentor to the young rookie, Darius Acuff Jr. Then, Westbrook's career decision derailed that plan.
Cam Payne could benefit from the future Hall of Famer's decision
NBA insider Jake Fischer has been linking the Kings to Westbrook and the former Indiana Pacers star, Victor Oladipo. Shortly after the NBA watched a four-team trade go down on Wednesday night, Fischer reported that Payne is going to have a workout with the Kings on Thursday.
Oladipo is still very much in the mix, while Elfrid Payton is another name to watch in Sacramento's hunt for a mentor. The job would've been Westbrook's to lose, but that's no longer a worry for a guy like Payne, who watched the future Hall of Famer hang it up, despite getting offers from the Kings and other teams.
Does Cam Payne still got it?
Payne's last NBA run came with the Sixers during the 2025-2026 season. Nearly one year ago, the veteran guard started the 2025-2026 offseason with the Indiana Pacers. He didn't make the final cut.
In December, Payne went ot Serbia to play for Partizan Mozzart Bet. When the Sixers found a need for a veteran guard, Payne managed to get out of his overseas deal and back to the City of Brotherly Love for a second stint.
In 22 games, Payne averaged 17.0 minutes on the court as a reserve. He shot 37.6% from the field and 33.0% from three, to produce 7.4 points per game. He also produced 2.6 assists per game. An unfortunate injury was set to sideline Payne for a while, leaving the Sixers with no choice but to waive him. That opened a spot for Dalen Terry to get a standard deal.
Although Payne struggled with his shooting efficiency with the Sixers, he was always recognized as a valuable veteran in the locker room throughout both stints with the team. While Payne is typically one to join a win-now situation, spending time with Phoenix, Milwaukee, and New York, in addition to the Sixers lately, the Kings could be a nice change of pace for him. Payne could get some steady playing time while serving as a mentor in a low-stakes situation.
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