Nets guard Cam Thomas has participated in only 25 games this season due to ongoing hamstring issues, but he believes he has shown significant potential when in good health to secure a prominent role with an NBA team, as reported by Brian Lewis of The New York Post.
“Yeah, of course. When I got major minutes, I feel like I’ve been one of the best guards in the league in my position,” Thomas remarked earlier this week. “I feel like I’ve shown that. So, nothing really to talk about with that. But I feel like when I do have the minutes in a featured role, the sky’s the limit for me. We’ve seen that these past two years.”
This summer, Thomas will qualify for restricted free agency, and a source within the league who spoke with Lewis estimated that the high-scoring guard, who has averaged 22.9 points per game in 91 games since the start of the 2023/24 season, could request a contract between $20-22 million per year. Nonetheless, Thomas indicated that he hasn’t focused extensively on free agency and is not particularly excited about the process.
“I don’t really care. It’s just part of the business. Whoever wants me, hopefully it’s here (in Brooklyn). I’d love to come back. But it is what it is. It’s just part of the business,” he stated, according to Lewis. “I’m just going to take it day by day. It’s a long time from now, so I’m not really worried about that.”
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In a subscriber-exclusive piece for The New York Post, Lewis discusses how Thomas’ recent absence will impact his teammates. According to Lewis, Cameron Johnson will step in as Brooklyn’s primary scoring option, while Keon Johnson is likely to hold onto his starting spot, making way for Maxwell Lewis to receive rotation minutes.
The second-year forward, Lewis—who arrived from the Lakers in a December trade involving D’Angelo Russell and Dorian Finney-Smith—has made a favorable impression on the franchise with his recent performance, as highlighted in another Post article. After recording just 21 points in his first 47 NBA games, Lewis has tallied 28 points in his last three games and achieved a +30 over 57 minutes during that period. “I like what I saw,” said head coach Jordi Fernandez regarding Lewis on Tuesday. “… His energy is contagious. And you can tell his teammates on the bench every time he does something positive, they celebrate. That’s the most important thing. You see that chemistry.” With a minimum salary for next season that is partially guaranteed at just $100K, he is motivated to secure his position on the roster for the 2025/26 season.
Cameron Johnson was among the prominent in-season trade candidates who remained with the Nets following the February 6 deadline. In a discussion with Jared Weiss of The Athletic, Johnson recounted that the time leading up to the deadline was fraught with stress due to the looming possibility of being traded. “(It’s) probably not as fun as it is watching,” he noted regarding the trade deadline. “Everybody, you want to know what’s going on in life. Uncertainty can be difficult.” The veteran forward also expressed that he sensed the Nets might be in “just in a sale mode” after trading away Finney-Smith and Dennis Schröder, interpreting the front office’s decision to retain him as a sign of their appreciation for his contributions. “I do appreciate maybe the value that they associated with having me on the team versus getting rid of me,” Johnson commented.
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