'That’s a Big Number' – Brooklyn Nets’ FA Cam Thomas Viewed as a Bench Player

“He can flat-out score, no doubt about that,” an Eastern Conference scout said via Grant 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.

“If you’re building a team, are you giving Cam Thomas that kind of money to be your top option? Probably not,” a Western Conference scout said about the Brooklyn Nets guard. “And if he’s your third guy, that’s a big number for someone who doesn’t defend or create for his teammates at a high level.”

“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,” they added.

Being a bench player isn’t something that Thomas would want to have after leading the Nets in points per game last season.

An anonymous Western Conference scout addressed the Utah Jazz’s link to the Brooklyn Nets’ free agent

Thomas has not attracted the attention of many teams. Aside from the Brooklyn Nets, the Utah Jazz is the only team that could make a move for the free agent guard. In Afseth’s latest piece, an anonymous Western Conference scout revealed that the former No. 27 pick doesn’t fit the team’s long-term plans.

“As of July 25, the Utah Jazz are the only team aside from Brooklyn with meaningful spending power,” Afseth wrote. “But league sources are skeptical about Utah’s interest.

“They’re building around defense, size, and versatility,’ a Western Conference scout said. ‘Cam is a pure scorer, but he doesn’t fit the long-term vision they’re selling internally.”

Although the Jazz have a young group, they believe Thomas isn’t the right player for their system and their future. If he doesn’t end up in Utah, there’s a chance he’ll return to Brooklyn and accept the $5.99 million qualifying offer.