Unfulfilled promises and shortcomings have marred the Brooklyn Nets’ organization. Ever since they decided to pull the plug on their superstar core of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, the franchise has been in rebuild mode, and it appears that it isn’t coming to an end anytime soon.
On Sunday, senior NBA reporter Jake Fischer reported that Nets’ shooting guard Cam Thomas will likely accept the team’s qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent after next season.
Although his game is not very well-rounded, part of why he’s having issues receiving the money he desires, Cam Thomas has been an electrifying bucket-getter at every stage of his basketball career.
Thomas Earned His NBA Spot
Cam Thomas was a one-and-done at LSU. Although his tenure there was brief, he was a standout player. He averaged 23.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists.
He had many great games, including a 27-point performance in his debut against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Seven games after that, he scored a career-high 32 points against Texas A&M University.
Thomas didn’t break any college records, but he did put himself into rare company. Not only did his point average lead all freshmen in the 2020-21 season, but it was also the highest by an LSU freshman since Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, who averaged 30.2 points in 1989. Thomas’ efforts earned him a spot on the First Team All-SEC.
Brooklyn Saw Potential
After playing one year in Louisiana, Cam Thomas forwent his remaining college eligibility and entered the 2021 NBA draft.
During the draft, the Nets selected Thomas with the No. 27 pick. They drafted him with hopes of adding a scorer and key contributor to a bench that backed up the superstars of Durant, Harden and Irving.
Unsurprisingly, Thomas’s rookie year was slow. While playing in 67 games and only starting in two, he averaged 8.5 points. Nevertheless, in the two games he started in, he averaged 21.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, providing a glimpse of the scorer he could become.
Underdog to Showstopper
The 2022-23 season was the first notable one for Cam Thomas.
Despite only averaging 16.6 minutes, he played 57 games and started in four. Thomas took advantage of the given opportunities to prove he could be a true scorer in the league. He averaged 10.6 points, including four games with 40-plus points.
His best game that season occurred on February 6, when he scored a career-high 47 points against the Los Angeles Clippers. Although Brooklyn lost, it was a highlight game for him, considering he was playing against a solid defensive team. The game was also part of a three-game streak during which he scored 40+ points. He became the second youngest player in NBA history to score that amount in consecutive games.
After his scoring spurts, the Nets made him a primary starter for the 2023-24 season.
The 2023-24 campaign was a breakout season for Thomas — he began to reach his peak as a performer. Not only did his scoring efficiency increase, but he found other ways to contribute on the court. Along with averaging 22.5 points per game, he also logged averages of 3.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists.
Last season was arguably Thomas’ best season of his young career. Despite being limited to only 25 games due to a series of hamstring injuries, he put up career numbers that reflected his college days. He averaged 24.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists.
Cam Thomas’ Value
While Thomas has struggled to get the contract he wants this offseason, his path as an eventual unrestricted free agent could be promising.
At just 23 years old, he has already shown flashes of elite scoring and he’s stepped up to the plate every time he’s been given more minutes. Teams in need of a reliable shooting guard with offensive versatility may see him as a low-risk, high-reward addition.
If he can build on his scoring efficiency and begin to develop his all-around game next season, Thomas would command a meaningful role and a lucrative contract on the open market.
For a Nets organization that continues to seek consistency, allowing Thomas to enter free agency would provide the franchise with an opportunity to reevaluate its roster and financial flexibility, but it puts them at risk of losing their current best offensive weapon.
Thomas is hoping that if he can carry the momentum from this season into next, teams ready to maximize his scoring talent will offer him the chance to become a key contributor. As for Brooklyn, they’ll use this season to reflect on the potential they saw in him and decide if Cam Thomas will be a part of their future.
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