Update (Sept. 8):
After undergoing surgery on his right foot, Chicago Bulls guard Cameron Payne is expected to miss 3-4 months, the organization announced on Twitter:
Injury Update: Cameron Payne underwent successful surgery on his right foot on Wed. Payne is expected to make a full return in 3-4 months. pic.twitter.com/b9IPnrQE0Y
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) September 8, 2017
Original Story (Aug. 30) Follows:
Once a prospect oozing with potential, Chicago Bulls guard Cameron Payne has seen his NBA career get off to a rocky start. Since being drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder to be the primary backup to 2017 MVP Russell Westbrook, sporadic minutes and frequent injuries have plagued Payne’s once bright future.
After getting a fresh start with the Chicago Bulls as a result of a trade, Payne played in only 11 games with the team before being sent to D-League and sustaining a foot injury. According to The Vertical’s Shams Charania, that foot injury will require surgery and Payne will be sidelined until approximately late November:
Chicago Bulls guard Cameron Payne will undergo surgery on his right foot Wednesday and is expected to be sidelined until late November, league sources told The Vertical.
This will be the second time Cameron Payne will have to undergo foot surgery in the last two years and his nagging right foot has been the culprit on both occasions. Payne has shown flashes in the past of his vast potential, but that potential remains severely capped if he can’t find a way to remain healthy and on the court.
The Bulls are already running thin at point guard depending largely on which guard spot new addition Zach LaVine lines up at so losing Payne is not an ideal situation for them. That being said, if no one else steps up off the bench, expect Payne to regain a prominent role in the rotation upon his eventual return.
