Former Lottery Pick Cam Payne Returns to NBA With New Deal

With no NBA contract coming his way for the 2025-26 season, guard Cam Payne decided to take his talents to Partizan Belgrade in Serbia. But now he is securing a buyout of his contract there in order to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers for the rest of the NBA season.

BREAKING: Philadelphia 76ers have signed guard Cam Payne for the rest of the 2025-26 NBA season.

Philadelphia also converted two-way forward Jabari Walker to a two-year contract.

Thoughts on these moves for Philly? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/AQwKoloxga
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) February 16, 2026

Payne last played in the Association with the New York Knicks last year, seeing 15 minutes of floor time per night, and averaging 6.9 points and 2.8 assists.

He signed with the Indiana Pacers back in October, but was waived after the preseason.

This will be a reunion for Payne, as he spent the second half of the 2023-24 season with Philly, averaging 9.3 points and 3.1 assists. He played a high-energy role off the bench, averaging 19.4 minutes a game, and shooting 38.2% from long range.

He was certainly well-liked in the Sixers locker room.

“He’s so positive,” star guard Tyrese Maxey said after a playoff game back in 2024. “Everybody says I’m positive, but he’s extremely positive. He’s just jumping around, having a great time.

“He makes you want to go out there and really compete with your brothers. And he’s always vocal on the bench. … He’s always telling everybody, ’Stay aggressive, stay ready, go out there and be who you are.’"

Payne was the 14th overall selection in the 2015 NBA draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder. He spent a year and a half there before moving onto the Chicago Bulls and then the Phoenix Suns for lengthier stays.

For his career, in 477 NBA games, Payne has averaged 7.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists, while shooting 36.8% from three-point range.

The Sixers are in sixth spot in the Eastern Conference coming out of the All-Star break, at 30-24.