Cam Thomas Predicted to Sign Qualifying Offer With Brooklyn Nets

NBA restricted free agent Cam Thomas has been predicted to sign his qualifying offer with the Brooklyn Nets and become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.

NBA writer Dan Favale of Bleacher Report thinks Thomas will play next season on his $6 million qualifying offer and then hit unrestricted free agency next offseason. As an unrestricted free agent, Thomas can leave the Nets.

Thomas appeared in 25 games last season for the Nets. He averaged 24.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting 43.8% from the field, 34.9% from beyond the arc and 88.1% from the free-throw line.

Thomas was the 27th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft out of LSU. He has career averages of 15.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists with the Nets. 

Most NBA teams view Thomas as a bench player, according to Grant Afseth of FastbreakJournal.com.

“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,” a veteran NBA scout told Afseth. “That disparity is what’s keeping him on the market.”

“He can flat-out score, no doubt about that,” an Eastern Conference scout told Afseth. “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.”

The Nets haven’t made an aggressive effort to retain Thomas on a long-term deal, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. All signs point toward Thomas signing his qualifying offer soon.

“Brooklyn has not made an aggressive effort to retain Cam Thomas on any long-term deal, sources say,” Fischer wrote. “Sources also say Thomas is showing an increasing interest in playing out next season on a $6 million qualifier for the right to enjoy true free agency next summer.”