What It Means:

Payne is a little behind schedule from his initial timetable, but he shed his walking boot last month, and could be available for the first time this season against Memphis next week. He'll be worked in slowly as Russell Westbrook's backup, but should see plenty of work in two-point guard lineups once he's free of any restrictions.

Payne managed a -0.2 nERD in his rookie year, ranking 82nd in the NBA, while averaging 5.0 points, 1.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 12.2 minutes per game, with a .490 true shooting percentage and 12.9 player efficiency rating.