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.
Cam Thomas just posted this on his IG story:
“They don’t like me then fuck em”
He chose that point in the song for a reason😬😬
Terrible sign
PAY THE MAN pic.twitter.com/GCkBIC2kfd
— 3GOR (@NextdoorNabers) July 16, 2025
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 offseason.
