Cam Thomas remains a restricted free agent, with little interest shown by teams outside the Brooklyn Nets, who themselves hesitate to offer him more than $14 million annually. This uncertainty around Thomas’ value makes it difficult for the 23-year-old scorer to attract offers from other franchises.
Due to this lack of market demand, Thomas could possibly play the 2025-26 season on his qualifying offer, which would then allow him to become an unrestricted free agent the following summer. This situation places the Nets in a difficult position regarding his future.
How Houston Stands to Benefit if Thomas Departs Brooklyn
If Thomas decides to leave the Nets, the biggest beneficiaries of that move would likely be the Houston Rockets. After a strong offseason adding key players like Kevin Durant, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Clint Capela, Houston has become a serious title contender.
Beyond their current roster, the Rockets possess a highly valuable asset: the ability to swap first-round picks with Brooklyn in the 2027 NBA Draft. This pick swap could have major implications for Brooklyn’s rebuilding efforts.
Implications of the 2027 Draft Pick Swap on Brooklyn’s Rebuild
The forthcoming 2025-26 season is considered the official start of Brooklyn’s rebuild, following a quiet previous year without significant draft picks or major transactions aside from trading Mikal Bridges and re-signing Nic Claxton. The Nets face immense pressure to avoid the draft lottery in the next two seasons in order to protect their 2027 first-round selection from conveying to Houston.
Brooklyn’s general manager, Sean Marks, essentially has a two-year window to assemble a roster strong enough to secure at least the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, thereby safeguarding their draft position. Failure to do so could result in a devastating loss of a high-value future pick.
Strategic Decisions Ahead for the Brooklyn Nets
The Nets could attempt to rely on the Rockets’ success—or lack thereof—in building their new team with Durant and others, similar to how Houston’s previous ventures in Kings County ended unsuccessfully. However, Brooklyn is unlikely to depend solely on Houston’s potential missteps to protect their assets.
The more realistic path for the Nets involves conceding to Cam Thomas’ contract demands and improving their performance slightly, winning enough games to avoid the lottery and keep the 2027 first-round pick. Balancing the need to remain competitive while managing Thomas’ uncertain commitment will be crucial.
This tense situation underscores the complex interplay between player contracts, draft assets, and rebuilding timelines, all of which will shape the Nets’ future decisions over the next two years.