NBA Execs View Nets’ Cam Thomas As Talented But Risky Bet In Free Agency

Originally posted on Hoops Wire | By Sam Amico | Last updated Jul 30, 2025 5:06 PM ET

When it comes to Brooklyn Nets restricted free agent Cam Thomas, NBA executives just don’t see eye to eye.

Fred Katz of The Athletic polled 16 rival executives on what a “fair” contract would look like for Thomas, and the responses were all over the board.

Thomas led the Nets in scoring with 24.0 points per game this past season but was limited to just 25 games due to hamstring issues. Execs clearly weren’t sure how much to weigh the production against the availability.

“I wouldn’t be shocked if this was way lower or higher,” one exec said of the number they landed on, which was two years and $32 million. “His scoring is very much ‘eye of the beholder.'”

The range of responses backs that up. Unlike other restricted free agents in the poll, including Jonathan Kuminga, Josh Giddey and Quentin Grimes, Thomas was the only one who didn’t receive mostly three- or four-year deals.

Only eight of the 16 respondents were willing to go at least three years. Seven others offered two-year deals, including one “one-plus-one” structure at two years and $40 million with a second-year team option.

Just three execs floated a four-year offer. No one suggested five.

Valuations ranged from $10 million to $30 million annually, with the average coming in at $16.7 million per season and only $42.7 million in total guaranteed money.

One exec, who came in highest on Thomas, said a three-year deal worth $90 million was “fair” but admitted they personally wouldn’t offer it.

“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,” the exec said.

For the record, Green signed a three-year, $105 million extension last fall.

Still, many of Thomas’ comps — including Collin Sexton, Norman Powell and Jordan Clarkson — haven’t exactly returned big trade value. Clarkson even reached a buyout and later signed for the minimum in New York.

Thomas is just 23, and Brooklyn needs someone to score. But the Nets are expected to focus more on draft position than wins next season and have not rushed to lock him up. As Katz noted, no other team seems ready to force their hand.

For now, Thomas remains in limbo. He is clearly talented, but his market is still trying to figure out what that’s actually worth.