Cam Thomas, chosen twenty seventh total by the Nets within the 2021 NBA Draft, is ready to enter restricted free company. He’s proven constant development over his first 4 seasons however has but to completely understand his NBA potential.
Will the younger scoring guard peak with Brooklyn or discover his stride with one other workforce?
“I look forward to the summer and look forward to those conversations with [other] free agents, and we’ll see where it all plays out,” Nets common supervisor Sean Marks mentioned. “But I do think it’s important to be able to keep your homegrown talent.”
Free company marks a brand new chapter for the 23-year-old. He’s anticipated to fetch a qualifying supply of roughly $5.9 million, and as a restricted free agent, the Nets can match any supply sheets he receives from different groups.
“I know my value,” Thomas mentioned. “I know what I’m worth around the league. It’s not really nothing for me to be intimidated or excited about because I know my value that I bring to a team… I definitely know I know my value and all my work. I think that’s all that matters to me.”
Thomas’ first three NBA seasons had been robust to guage. His fourth yr proved equally difficult, with restricted court docket time due to damage and an absence of robust supporting expertise when he did play.
Thomas averaged a career-high 24 factors, 3.3 rebounds, and three.8 assists per sport final season however was restricted to solely 25 video games. Additionally, his three-point (34.9%) and total taking pictures (43.8%) percentages declined in restricted appearances.
“When I was available, I thought I had a great season when I was able to play,” Thomas mentioned. “I learned a lot, really found out a lot about myself, on and off [the court]. Great season. Obviously, I’d love to be playing more, but sometimes, that’s just how the cards are dealt.”
The Nets ought to maintain Thomas, regardless of his effectivity and damage considerations. At 23, he’s a high-potential scorer with rising playmaking expertise. Brooklyn wants a franchise cornerstone, and with solely the sixth-best lottery odds, there’s no certainty of drafting a generational expertise in 2025.
Cam Thomas, a homegrown expertise and fan favourite, is keen to stick with Brooklyn. The Nets, certainly one of few groups with vital cap area in 2025, face restricted competitors for his companies.
A proactive deal earlier than free company begins on June 29, probably $80-100 million over 4 years based on some specialists, may save cap area in comparison with matching a bigger supply in a bidding struggle.
Above all, Thomas has remained loyal to the franchise that drafted him, and loyalty ought to depend for one thing. His regular enchancment deserves recognition and deserves a rewarding contract.
“I never wavered from that,” Thomas mentioned. “I all the time felt like [Brooklyn] was an incredible match for me. Simply seeing the workforce, even with the workforce on the time, it was an incredible match. For me, clearly, I’d’ve cherished to play extra, get extra run. However it was simply a part of the league, a part of the enterprise. I understood, however I by no means wavered.
“I always loved playing here, even when I got the opportunity to play in front of fans, everybody in the arena. I got excited when I was out there playing, scoring. I definitely love playing in Barclays, playing in front of everybody. Even now, I’m just playing freely, playing with a green light, I would say. So, just experiencing that has been great, but definitely never wavered from the match made in heaven that I said on draft day. It still applies to this day for me.”
