Veteran guard Cameron Payne is opting to stay in the United States after receiving what was described as strong interest from EuroLeague club KK Partizan, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
Payne, 30, became a free agent when the Indiana Pacers waived him earlier this month. Partizan, based in Belgrade, pursued the 10-year NBA veteran, but Payne has decided to wait for another NBA opportunity instead of heading overseas.
The left-handed guard has logged rotation minutes for several contenders, including the Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, and New York Knicks. Last season with New York, he appeared in 72 games and averaged 6.9 points and 2.8 assists while shooting 36.3 percent from three-point range. His brief preseason stint with Indiana ended when he shot 28.6 percent from the field and was released prior to opening night.
Bruno Fernando Heads to Serbia
While Payne stays stateside, former NBA center Bruno Fernando has reached an agreement with KK Partizan, per Javier Molero of Eurohoops. The 6-foot-10 Angolan played most recently for Real Madrid and owns 220 NBA appearances with the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, and Toronto Raptors. He suited up in 17 games for Toronto last season before being waived in January.
Notable Free Agents Still on the Board
With the regular season underway, several recognizable names remain unsigned. Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report lists Malik Beasley, Ben Simmons, and Precious Achiuwa as the top veterans still searching for new teams.
Early Breakout Candidates for 2025-26
Jeremy Woo of ESPN highlights five young players who could make significant strides next season, including Payton Pritchard (Celtics), Jalen Duren (Pistons), and Andrew Nembhard (Pacers).
Source: Hoops Wire
