Should the Thunder Draft Cameron Payne at #14?

Prospect: Cameron Payne

School: Murray State

DOB: 8/8/1994 (20 years old)

Cameron Payne is probably one of the best players you've never heard of. Unless you happen to be a Murray State alum or just follow college basketball ridiculously close, you probably missed almost if not every single game that Cameron Payne took part in. It would be foolish to overlook him as many have speculated the Thunder giving him a draft promise should he still be on the board at pick 14.

Here are his stats from last season.

Here are his adjusted per 40 stats.

Strengths

Fearless

Fearless is another word for gunslinger. He was the heart and soul of the Murray State basketball team and never shied away from the big moment.

Scoring the Basketball

Looking at his stats, it was obvious he was the focal point of the Murray State basketball team. While there is zero chance he would overtake Westbrook as the starting point guard for the Thunder, he has the ability to fill up the stat sheet. This lends him to being an ideal candidate for the 6th man.

Crafty

While not possessing amazing athleticism, he gets the job done in a number of ways. Whether it be floaters in the lane, making the extra pass, or hitting a big shot, Payne seemingly always gets the job done.

Wingspan

In spite of his slight build, Payne has a 6' 7 1/4" wingspan which allowed him to average 1.8 steals a game.

Weaknesses

Size

At 6-2/183 Payne could find himself in situations where he could get bullied by much bigger players. He will need to continue to fill out his frame to truly maximize his talents.

Finishing Ability

Payne is really not an above the rim player. He will have to find creative ways to finish in the lane against much bigger players. He is seemingly aware of that, as he averages 3 floaters per game.

Level of Competition

Murray State is a long ways from the NBA. While the NBA has enjoyed recent success of the small school players transitioning to the league (Elfrid Payton, Damian Lillard) it is far from a guarantee of future success in the NBA. Murray State to the Western Conference would be quite a jump for Payne.

Final Thoughts

I like Payne, but  I admit I would be a bit disappointed if he was the guy at pick 14. If anyone, however,  would prove me wrong it would be him. He does so many things well, and could really excel with the 2nd unit. There are some questions if Payne would even be there at pick 14, as several mocks have him landing with the Pacers. He has drawn comparisons to Jeff Teague for his play.