The Brooklyn Nets will be without guard Cam Thomas for Thursday’s game against the Orlando Magic, as he’s been ruled out due to personal reasons. That absence comes at a notable time - just hours before the NBA’s trade deadline hits at 3 PM EST.
Thomas wasn’t on the team flight to Orlando, per a league source, and while that alone doesn’t confirm anything, it certainly adds fuel to the growing trade buzz surrounding the 24-year-old scorer. Both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks have expressed interest in Thomas, according to reports.
This isn’t the first time Thomas' name has surfaced in trade talks. In fact, it’s been simmering since the offseason.
After failing to reach a contract extension with the Nets, Thomas opted to sign his $6 million qualifying offer instead. He reportedly turned down a two-year, $15 million deal that included a team option - a move that gave him more control over his future, including a no-trade clause.
That clause means Thomas has the final say in any potential deal, and he’ll need to sign off on any trade Brooklyn might pursue.
From a basketball perspective, a fresh start might not be the worst idea for either side. Thomas began the season as a key piece for Brooklyn - a starter and their leading scorer.
Over the team’s first seven games, he averaged a scorching 24.4 points per game while shooting .408 from the field, .356 from three, and .875 from the line. But those numbers came with a caveat: the Nets went 0-7 in that stretch, and their defense was historically bad - a league-worst 128.5 defensive rating.
Then came the hamstring injury in game eight, sidelining Thomas for two months. During that time, the Nets found a bit of rhythm.
They went 9-12 without him, but more importantly, they tightened up defensively, posting the NBA’s sixth-best defensive rating at 111.7. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a clear step forward.
Since Thomas’ return? The numbers tell a different story.
Brooklyn has gone 4-17 and fallen back into bad habits defensively, with the second-worst defensive rating in the league at 120.9. Thomas, meanwhile, has seen his role scaled back significantly.
Coming off the bench, he’s averaging 12.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists over his last 16 games, shooting just 39.8% from the field and 30.6% from beyond the arc.
It’s a tough spot for a player who’s shown he can score in bunches but hasn’t quite found his fit in a system that’s trying to prioritize balance and defense. With the trade deadline looming and Thomas holding the power to approve any move, both he and the Nets face a decision that could shape the rest of their season - and possibly their future.