Latest news with #CamThomas
New York Times
7 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
What I'm hearing about Cam Thomas' restricted free agency with the Nets
No NBA team is more desperate for shot creation than the Brooklyn Nets. The offense's best chance to fabricate an open look comes possibly from an unpolished 19-year-old, Egor Demin, who Brooklyn selected with the No. 8 pick in last month's draft. Or maybe it's from a veteran scorer who feasts on spot-up jumpers but isn't known for his work off the dribble, Michael Porter Jr. Or it's potentially from former second-round pick Tyrese Martin, who caught fire in spurts pulling up from long range this past season but was on a two-way contract until February. Advertisement As of now, these are the best options to run the Nets' attack. And yet, the team's former scoring machine, Cam Thomas, still rests untouched in the wilderness of restricted free agency. The Athletic recently polled 16 members of NBA front offices (including no one from the Nets), asking what they would consider a 'fair' contract for each restricted free agent who remains unsigned: Thomas, the Golden State Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga, the Chicago Bulls' Josh Giddey and the Philadelphia 76ers' Quentin Grimes. The Kuminga, Giddey and Grimes results have already been published. Now, it's on to Thomas, who inspired the widest range of responses out of anyone in the poll. On one side are the people who believe that Thomas' gaudy numbers warrant a payday. The highest average annual value proposed for him was $30 million a year. On the other are those who question if his score-first approach is conducive to winning. Thomas averaged 24.0 points and improved as both a pick-and-roll ballhandler and facilitator in 2024-25. But he played only 25 games due to a hamstring injury and still has to improve as a passer and defender. His status left even high-ranking front office personnel wondering what his next deal might look like. No matter the response provided, participants in the poll were uncertain if their answer was mainstream or against the grain. 'This is the hardest one,' one executive said. Another respondent deemed a two-year, $32 million contract for Thomas fair, but provided a caveat. 'I wouldn't be shocked if this was way lower or higher,' he said. 'His scoring is very much 'eye of the beholder.'' The one consistency in responses for the 23-year-old Thomas was short-term contracts. For instance, compare his results to those of Grimes. People in this poll were more willing to give Thomas a higher average annual value ($16.7 million for Thomas compared to $14.7 million for Grimes), but they were more comfortable handing Grimes total money ($47.7 million guaranteed for Grimes compared to $42.7 million guaranteed for Thomas). Advertisement Participants mentioned all types of structures for Thomas. One person suggested a two-year contract but with a team option on the second season. That one was worth $20 million a year. Seven other respondents suggested two-year deals: two contracts were for $20 million total; one was for $28 million; one was for $29.3 million (the exact value of the midlevel exception); one was for $30 million; one was for $32 million; and one was for $50 million. But that $50 million contract came with an asterisk: not all of it was guaranteed. The first year pays Thomas $25 million. The second is guaranteed for only $5 million. So Thomas receives either $30 million for one year of service or $50 million for two, handing him a pseudo-expiring contract for the upcoming season or a definite expiring deal for the next one. A bloated, one-year payment, this executive argued, could be enough to sway Thomas against picking up the qualifying offer, which would pay him $6 million in 2025-26 but allow him to hit unrestricted free agency next summer. 'It keeps the Nets' (cap space) alive for next year, gives Cam the money he wants per year in the short term, and he doesn't lose Bird rights if he's traded (like he would if he took the qualifying offer),' the executive said. The Nets have one element going for them in negotiations: Creating leverage is not easy for Thomas. Since he is a restricted free agent, Brooklyn can match any offer sheet he signs with another team to bring him back for the same price. Of course, Thomas would struggle to find a suitor anyway. The only team with enough cap room to make him a meaningful offer is the one he played on last season. Brooklyn is preparing for another season at the bottom of the standings. The Nets are looking to the future, one reason participants in the poll concentrated on them retaining Thomas for what they would consider a tradeable salary. Advertisement The executive who suggested the two-year, $30 million contract focused on keeping the second year, not the first, under the midlevel exception, which projects to be a shade above $15 million in 2026-27. In that case, Thomas could receive $15 million in each season, instead of approximately $14.5 million in Year 1 with a conventional five- or eight-percent raise to follow. This would allow Brooklyn to trade Thomas into another team's MLE either next summer or next season without having to match salaries. Five respondents proposed three-year contracts: one for $48.6 million (with a player option), one for $50 million, one for $51 million and one for $90 million, which was the most total money and the highest average annual value suggested for Thomas. 'I wouldn't personally give (it to) him … But I justified it as 'fair' because if I'm him, I'm saying I'm better than Jalen Green and that's way less than he got,' said the staffer who suggested the $90 million contract. Green received a three-year, $105 million extension this past summer after averaging similar scoring numbers on comparable efficiency. Of course, Thomas put up his statistics on a 26-win team. Green has a cleaner health history and was a former No. 2 pick, which arguably should not matter in these negotiations but often does. Thomas was the 27th selection in the same draft. Three respondents submitted four-year contracts: One for $50 million, one for $60 million and one for $80 million. In the end, eight of the 16 participants in the poll suggested a three-plus-year contract for Thomas. For perspective, 15 of the 16 proposed deals of at least three years for each of Kuminga, Giddey and Grimes. 'The teams clearly don't feel like the player or current market dictate longer deals at higher dollars,' one executive who proposed a short-term contract said. 'If I am the player (or) agent, then give me the ability to get out a little early, retain my Bird rights, and make an at least respectable salary that I can sell myself on taking.' Advertisement There is the issue of archetype, too. Off-guard scoring is not at a premium right now. The Utah Jazz waived Jordan Clarkson, who then signed a minimum contract, and dumped Collin Sexton without receiving future pieces. Tim Hardaway Jr. signed for the minimum. Gary Trent went for the minimum last summer and barely above it this one. The Miami Heat traded a couple of veterans not on Norman Powell's level to acquire Powell. But no team needs a player of this ilk, someone who can get a bucket off the bounce or even occasionally create for a teammate, quite like the Nets do. Thomas is waiting for a contract. Whether he receives a handsome payment will depend on the eye of the beholder.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why these 4 very good NBA players remain unsigned
NBA free agency is, for the most part, complete. Players have signed, the dust has settled and teams are headed toward a few quiet weeks of summer vacation. Yet, there are four very solid players — forward Jonathan Kuminga (Warriors) and guards Josh Giddey (Bulls), Cam Thomas (Nets) and Quentin Grimes (76ers) — who are each still without contracts. Kuminga, Giddey, Thomas and Grimes were ranked seventh, ninth, 11th and 15th, respectively, in USA TODAY Sports' original ranking of Top 25 players available this cycle. So, why are they still available? Well, for one, each is a restricted free agent, meaning that their most recent team can match any offer sheet the player would sign with any other franchise. But there are several other market factors impacting their status. Here's an explainer on why these talented restricted free agents remain unsigned: What's the difficulty with restricted free agency? Restricted free agency is a lever that limits a player's self-determination in free agency. In an ideal scenario on the player side, the player can seek his so-called market value in negotiations with other teams — often using potential suitors as leverage plays to get the most recent team to pay up. If a team declines to match the offer sheet, then the player will join the other franchise courting him. But this was always going to be a tough offseason for players looking to get paid. In simplest terms, there was not a lot of available cap space, as teams increasingly look to avoid luxury taxes and dipping into the punitive apron triggers. And because teams who were active in the opening days of free agency seemingly wanted to avoid the uncertainty of extending an offer sheet to a player who might not ultimately be available, the market shifted toward unrestricted free agents. The issue of available salary cap space is magnified even further, now that teams mostly have their rosters set, leaving very little budget for these talented players. That depressed market, therefore, gives the most recent teams a massive advantage in negotiations. In essence, the teams with the rights to these restricted free agents are negotiating only against themselves, meaning they have increased leverage, and no real urgency to offer massive contracts — at least in the short term. The player, however, also has the option to accept his team's qualifying offer, thus playing out the final season of his rookie contract. Then, at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, the player would become an unrestricted free agent. This would give the player the option to take a short-term loss — playing under a contract that is well below market value — to later enter the market unencumbered, just one year later. Jonathan Kuminga Still only 22 years old, Kuminga has had an uneven career with the Warriors, since the team selected him seventh overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. Kuminga flashed potential in the 2023-24 season as a versatile wing scorer who could slash and get to the rim, but he ultimately lost his spot in the rotation last season, particularly when Golden State traded for Jimmy Butler. Kuminga averaged 15.3 points per game last season — which was down from 16.1 the year previous — but the decline in his efficiency and shooting percentage (45.4%, down from his career-high 52.9% in 2023-24) is most concerning. The case for Golden State to re-sign Kuminga: He's an athletic player with tons of potential, and the Warriors will need his youth to maximize what the team has left with Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green each in their mid-30s. The case against: Although their working relationship appears to be on solid footing, Steve Kerr has, at times, seemingly lacked trust in Kuminga, particularly to close out games. Although Kuminga has flashed potential, he remains somewhat unproven, so justifying a lucrative deal may be challenging. Josh Giddey Giddey is approaching triple-double territory for a season. In 2024-25 — his fourth season in the NBA and first with the Bulls — the 6-8 guard averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists and shot 46.5% from the field and 37.8% on 3-pointers. In the final 15 games of the season, Giddey averaged 20.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 9.7 assists. The case for Chicago to re-sign Giddey: It's difficult to find that kind of production, and that's why Giddey is seeking a lucrative long-term contract. He's just 22 years old and is the kind of player who can help win games with his scoring, passing and rebounding. The Bulls also gave up Alex Caruso to acquire Giddey. The case against: Patrick Williams' five-year, $90 million deal stings, and Chicago's hesitancy to give Giddey a big contract stems from the front office's decision on Williams' deal. There are optics involved, and the Bulls' front office needs the appearance of 'winning' a negotiation — or at least not looking like they screwed up. Cam Thomas Thomas can score. He averaged 24 points on 43.8% shooting from the field and 34.9% on 3s in 2024-25 — though he played in just 25 games due to a hamstring injury. The season before, he played in 66 games and averaged 22.5 points with similar shooting percentages (44.2%, 36.4%). The case for Brooklyn to re-sign Thomas: On a rebuilding and mostly young team with a payroll that is manageable, Thomas is a proven scorer, and he could be valuable as a player in a trade at a later date. The case against: NBA analyst Zach Lowe on his podcast said the consensus on Thomas was that he is an 'empty calories ball hog.' Thomas objected, saying 'This is most likely the same consensus (from) teams who can't guard me and send double teams from jump ball.' Is Thomas a starter who can do more than get buckets on a quality team or a scoring spark off the bench? The answer isn't clear. Quentin Grimes Grimes just turned 25 and proved he can be a reliable scorer in the 28 games he played with Philadelphia, after the Sixers acquired him ahead of the February trading deadline. Grimes scored 21.9 points per game with Philly, adding 5.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists. Granted, the 76ers were plagued with injuries and Grimes had an elevated role, but Grimes more than answered the call and is looking to cash in on that performance. The case for Philadelphia to re-sign Grimes: The 76ers battled injury issues last season, and there's no guarantee that this roster, with Paul George and Joel Embiid potentially still facing lingering issues, won't face similar issues in 2025-26. The case against: The Sixers have two of the worst contracts in the NBA in Paul George and Joel Embiid, so paying Grimes presents its own challenges. Plus, with Tyrese Maxey, second-year Jared McCain and rookie No. 3 overall selection VJ Edgecombe, the 76ers are already loaded at guard. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA restricted free agency: Why are these 4 players still unsigned?
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Insider Reveals Cam Thomas' Contract Expectations, Adds Many Teams View Him As A "Microwave" Bench Scorer
Insider Reveals Cam Thomas' Contract Expectations, Adds Many Teams View Him As A "Microwave" Bench Scorer originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas has found himself at the center of one of the more troubling free agency sagas this offseason. As a restricted free agent, Thomas has had very little control over deciding his future. Having been presented with an offer that significantly falls short of his expectations, the 23-year-old is expected to experience further difficulties, per NBA insider Grant Afseth. In his recent piece for Afseth revealed that the Nets guard was expecting a four-year deal in the range of $100 million. Considering the Nets' offer of $28 million over two years, with a team option in the second year, there is a wide gap in expectations between the two parties. Although Thomas is reportedly viewed as a "ball hog" by teams around the league, he remains an immensely gifted offensive player. He averaged 24.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists during the 2024-25 campaign, appearing in only 25 games, as injuries kept him sidelined for the better part of the season. An Eastern Conference scout told Afseth that teams around the league have evaluated Thomas' offensive abilities. They said: '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." According to a Western Conference executive, his current skill set also presented a limited scope for teams to pursue him. The executive claimed: "If you're building a team, are you giving Cam Thomas that kind of money to be your top option? Probably not. And if he's your third guy, that's a big number for someone who doesn't defend or create for his teammates at a high level." The executive's comments suggest that teams don't view Thomas as a primary option in the starting lineup, largely due to his limited contributions beyond scoring. However, this opens the door for Thomas to carve out a role off the bench, according to a veteran scout who spoke to Afseth. The scout said: "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." The outlook for Thomas to come off the bench as a scoring punch is intriguing. Considering the role Jordan Clarkson had with the Utah Jazz for much of his career, the 23-year-old could attempt to replicate that blueprint. This would be quite counterintuitive, as he sees himself as "one of the elite playmaking scorers in the NBA," per Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer. But in the current scenario, it may also be the best outcome. The offer presented by the Nets has been viewed as disrespectful by the NBA community on social media, especially considering the team option in the final year. The guard's frustrations with the Nets, as well as the critics, are justified at this stage. Given the circumstances, Thomas may seriously consider accepting the Nets' $5.9 million qualifying offer, playing out the season, and betting on himself in free agency next story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cam Thomas Described As Empty Calories Ball Hog Amid Recent Contract Fiasco
Cam Thomas Described As Empty Calories Ball Hog Amid Recent Contract Fiasco originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is one of the most capable offensive players in the league. As a restricted free agent, the 23-year-old is due for a massive contract extension with the Nets. Unfortunately for him, there has been little to no movement on this front, and reportedly, there's good reason for the delay. NBA insider Zach Lowe recently shed light on Thomas' situation with the Nets and provided an update on how the guard is perceived by others around the league. He said: "The consensus on Cam Thomas, if there is one, and he's got some fans, and he's got some mega-detractors - but the consensus is kind of like Empty Calories Ball Hog." This doesn't bode well for Thomas, who is hoping to carve out a career for himself in the NBA. As a gifted scorer, the 23-year-old is possibly the best offensive player on Brooklyn's roster. When also factoring in the recent addition of Michael Porter Jr., along with the performances of the Nets' rookies in Summer League, Brooklyn could field an intriguing team next season. But it seems like Thomas' unwillingness to pass the ball has been viewed as a bit of a negative factor in this regard. This was also reflected in his stats last season, as the guard put up impressive averages of 24.0 points, followed by an underwhelming 3.8 assists per game. Regardless, the guard has displayed a lot of upside with his scoring, something the Nets may consider investing in. But given the lack of demand for Thomas' skill set around the league, Brooklyn may use the opportunity to present the 23-year-old with a qualifying offer instead of offering a max extension. As things stand, the qualifying offer for the Nets guard stands at $12.1 million for the next season. If he is to accept this, he can play things out and enter unrestricted free agency next summer. Naturally, this would be frustrating for the 23-year-old, who responded with an indirect jab at the organization on social media recently. The other reason why the Nets will hesitate with re-signing Thomas will be his constant run-ins with injury, particularly his hamstring. Following his most recent injury in March during a game against the Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn has every reason to be concerned as well. The 23-year-old only played in 25 games last season, missing a large chunk of it in the process of recovering from other setbacks during the season. With the hamstring injury in March causing him to sit out the remainder of the season, the Nets front office has taken stock of the situation at hand. As things stand, there is no certainty that the Nets will offer an extension to Thomas. But should the guard return to the roster, Brooklyn would only see a marginal improvement to their roster. With very limited prospects for the upcoming season, it is far more likely for the Nets to be a lottery team again. In many ways, it could be possible for the team to get weaker as they pursue additional trades in the story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cam Thomas Rips Zach Lowe, Dismisses Consensus About Him Being An "Empty Calories Ball Hog"
Cam Thomas Rips Zach Lowe, Dismisses Consensus About Him Being An "Empty Calories Ball Hog" originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas has not taken too kindly to a concerning report that recently came out about him from The Ringer's Zach Lowe. Lowe stated that the consensus about Thomas is that he is an "empty calories ball hog," and the 23-year-old went off on the analyst and that narrative on X. "The consensus? F*** you and the consensus, Zach Lowe. This is most likely the same consensus teams who can't guard me and send double teams from jump ball. Why are we double-teaming a guy who's 'not that good' make it make sense, please." Thomas averaged 24.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game for the Nets in 2024-25, but missed much of the campaign due to injury. He remains a restricted free agent today, and that was why his name was brought up on The Zach Lowe Show. "What do we make of this guy who scores in bunches, who upped his assists significantly last year?" Lowe asked. "Still, I think only four and a half per 36 minutes, which, given the amount of time he has the ball, is still pretty low, but higher. Flashes some good passing skills, some lobs, some dump-offs. "Still had a usage rate of almost 33 percent, which is what you would associate almost with like Russell Westbrook, James Harden, MVP kind of seasons," Lowe continued. "Defensively, meh, but the dude can put the ball in the basket, and he can make a lot of tough shots, and he took more threes, and he shoots pretty well from three. Doesn't get to the rim that much; his rim rate is lower than I anticipated. "The consensus on Cam Thomas, if there is one, and he's got some fans, and he's got some mega-detractors - but the consensus is kind of like Empty Calories Ball Hog," Lowe added. Lowe did think that Thomas' passing had gotten better, but stated later on that he isn't sure he wants Thomas as a starter on a good team. He reckons the best role for the guard is to be a spark plug off the bench. Thomas, of course, would be backing himself to be more than just that. Minutes before putting out that post in which he ripped Lowe, he defended his play on the court. "Last time speaking on some s***," Thomas stated. "Empty Calories? First off, we were the 5th or 6th team in the East before my injury and trades. Can't control what the GM wanna do with the team … 2nd ball hog? I was 2nd on the team in assists, not counting the PGs traded away and traded for… Guess nobody was passing the mf ball. But just bring me up every time." The Nets were tied for seventh in the East with an 8-10 record on Nov. 25, 2024, when Thomas was sidelined due to a hamstring issue that would cause him to miss much of the remainder of the season. He believes that this shows an unfair picture is being painted about him. While that may or may not be true, it's getting less likely by the passing day that Thomas gets the kind of contract that he desires. According to the New York Post's Brian Lewis, he is seeking a deal in the neighborhood of $30 million a year, but the Nets are reluctant to make that kind of financial commitment. One wonders how this situation pans story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
