The Brooklyn Nets have not actively pursued a long-term contract extension for Cam Thomas, a restricted free agent, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer. Thomas has the option to play next season on his qualifying offer, which would allow him to enter unrestricted free agency the following year. This situation places the Nets in a cautious position regarding their commitment to the scoring guard.
Contract Details and Player Performance
Thomas played in 25 games last season for Brooklyn, posting strong numbers with an average of 24.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, while shooting 43.8% from the field, 34.9% from three-point range, and 88.1% from the free-throw line. Despite these statistics, most teams consider Thomas more of a bench contributor than a starter, which complicates his market value during free agency.
Insights from NBA Scouts on Thomas’s Market Value
According to Grant Afseth from FastbreakJournal.com, teams see Thomas’s scoring ability but hesitate to meet his financial expectations. A veteran NBA scout explained,
“He’s a talented scorer, but he’s kind of stuck in the middle right now. He wants star money, but a lot of teams see him more like a microwave scorer off the bench,”
adding that this disconnect is a major factor keeping him unsigned.
Another Eastern Conference scout elaborated on the challenges, stating,
“He can flat-out score, no doubt about that, but teams want more than a bucket-getter at that price point. You’re talking $25–30 million per year — there’s got to be some defensive buy-in, some playmaking, some winning impact. That’s where the hesitation is.”
Background and Future Outlook
Cam Thomas was selected 27th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft from LSU, and has career averages of 15.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists with the Nets. Sources indicate Thomas is increasingly interested in completing next season on his $6 million qualifying offer to test free agency without restrictions next summer. This approach may lead to negotiations resuming if he proves his value and fills the teams’ broader role expectations.