Former Bucks champion sends straightforward advice to Cam Thomas following waiver

Thomas is now officially a free agent. Any team that signs him would be unable to use him in the playoffs, which limits his appeal to contenders. Former Bucks champion Jeff Teague, a known supporter of Thomas, voiced his disappointment over the release. The situation also prompted Teague to share a concise but firm message to Thomas and others in similar positions.

Jeff Teague’s advice on Cam Thomas

“No disrespect, it’s all love, but you got to sign them deals, bro,” Teague commented.

“You feel like you’re getting cheated or they’re shorting you, you need to sign. Solidify it. Kuminga did it! Two years, 24 [million] whatever it was. He got traded, but he still got a chance. It’s guaranteed two years of hoops.”

The 24-year-old came up through the Brooklyn Nets system, receiving only short-term offers from the franchise heading into the 2025-26 season. Seeking a bigger opportunity, Thomas decided to bet on himself by accepting Brooklyn’s qualifying offer last year, after failing to attract significant interest from other teams as a restricted free agent.

The deal Cam Thomas reportedly declined was valued at $30 million over two years and included a team option. With limited leverage in negotiations, Thomas ultimately signed for a reported $6 million.

The short-term Bucks guard’s window to increase his value before the next free agency period is likely closing, with his stock at a new low. After joining the Milwaukee Bucks, Thomas appeared in 18 games, shooting 43.1 percent from the field and 27.5 percent from three, while averaging 10.7 points per game.