Cam Thomas’ time with the Brooklyn Nets appears to be nearing its end, and it’s been a winding road to get here.
After a summer where Thomas and the Nets couldn’t come to terms on a long-term extension, the fifth-year guard opted to sign his $6 million qualifying offer-a move that made him one of the few players in recent memory to bet on himself in that way. Reportedly, he turned down a two-year, $30 million deal that included a team option, as well as a one-year, $9.5 million offer that would’ve required him to waive his no-trade clause. By keeping that clause intact, Thomas has maintained control over his future, at least until Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline.
On the court, there’s no denying what Thomas brings to the table: buckets. He’s been one of Brooklyn’s most gifted scorers, averaging 21.4 points per game on .434 shooting from the field, .353 from three, and .860 from the line.
When he gets cooking, he can fill it up in a hurry. But in today’s NBA, scoring alone doesn’t always guarantee long-term security-especially when there are other parts of your game that raise red flags.
For Thomas, the concerns have largely centered around defense and playmaking. Despite his high usage rate, he’s averaged just 3.1 assists per game over the last three seasons.
That’s a low number for a player who often has the ball in his hands. And defensively, the numbers haven’t been kind.
This season, the Nets have been 6.7 points worse per 100 possessions with Thomas on the floor-ranking him among the bottom 10 of 85 guards who’ve logged at least 500 minutes, per CleaningTheGlass.
Those issues came into sharper focus during a stretch when Thomas was sidelined with a hamstring injury-his fourth in the past year. Brooklyn, who had started the season 0-7 with the league’s worst defensive rating when Thomas was in the starting lineup, suddenly found a rhythm. Over the next 21 games without him, the Nets went 9-12 and posted the NBA’s sixth-best defensive rating.
When Thomas returned, he came off the bench-a shift that reflected the Nets’ evolving rotation. In his last 16 games, he’s averaged 12.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting just 39.8 percent from the field and 30.6 percent from deep. Not exactly the kind of production that forces a front office to rethink its long-term plans.
Now, with the trade deadline looming, Thomas is surveying the landscape. He holds the final say due to his no-trade clause, but there’s real interest out there.
Both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly shown interest in acquiring the 22-year-old scorer, and it’s easy to see why. In the right system-one that can cover for his defensive shortcomings and let him thrive as a microwave scorer-Thomas could still be a valuable piece.
The question now is whether he sees that opportunity in Brooklyn or somewhere else. Either way, the next few days could be pivotal for a player whose career has always been defined by his ability to get buckets-but now hinges on what else he can bring to the table.