Cam Payne Reportedly Returning to Sixers in Key Bench Role for Playoff Push
Just when it looked like the Sixers might be slipping into another season of “what could’ve been,” their front office is making a move to shore up one of the team’s most glaring weaknesses: bench scoring. According to reports, Philadelphia is finalizing a deal to bring back veteran guard Cameron Payne for the rest of the season, following a buyout agreement with Serbian powerhouse Partizan Belgrade.
This isn’t a headline-grabbing blockbuster, but it is a savvy, targeted move - the kind that could quietly pay dividends down the stretch.
A Familiar Face in a Familiar System
Payne isn’t new to Philly. He had a short stint with the Sixers during the 2023-24 season after being traded from Milwaukee in exchange for Patrick Beverley and a future second-rounder.
In that role, he averaged 9.3 points and 2.6 assists in just under 20 minutes per game. It wasn’t flashy, but it was efficient - and more importantly, it came within Nick Nurse’s system, alongside Joel Embiid.
That familiarity matters. Payne knows how to operate in Nurse’s schemes, he’s shared the floor with the team’s franchise cornerstone, and he’s shown he can contribute without needing the ball in his hands for extended stretches. For a team that’s been starving for reliable production from its second unit, that’s no small thing.
Bench Scoring Woes
The Sixers’ bench has been underwhelming for much of the season, averaging just 30.4 points per game - a number that puts them near the bottom of the league. That lack of firepower has been especially noticeable in games where the starters have struggled or needed rest. With Jared McCain now in Oklahoma City following a recent trade, the need for backcourt depth became even more pressing.
Enter Payne, who’s been putting up solid numbers overseas. In EuroLeague play with Partizan, he’s averaged 12.4 points, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game - highlighted by a 19-point outing against Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv. That level of production won’t be replicated in Philly, at least not in terms of minutes or volume, but it’s a clear sign that he’s still got plenty left in the tank.
Role Clarity and Fit
Let’s be clear: Payne isn’t coming in to take over games. With Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe leading the charge in the backcourt, and Quentin Grimes expected back soon from illness, minutes will be limited.
But that’s not a bad thing. Payne’s value lies in his ability to stabilize the offense when the starters sit, hit open shots, and keep the ball moving.
He’s not the kind of player who needs a high usage rate to make an impact. He spaces the floor, can run pick-and-rolls in spurts, and brings a level of experience that’s often missing from second units. And in a playoff race where every possession counts, having a steady hand off the bench can be the difference between closing out tight games and letting them slip away.
A Smart, Low-Risk Move
Given the Sixers' current roster limitations, this move makes a lot of sense. Payne isn’t a long-term solution or a game-changer, but he fills a very specific need - and he does it with familiarity, efficiency, and veteran savvy. For a team looking to solidify its playoff positioning and make a real run in the East, that’s more than enough.
In a season where the margin for error is thin and the Eastern Conference is as competitive as ever, the Sixers didn’t need a splash. They needed a solution. And in Cam Payne, they might’ve just found one.