The Brooklyn Nets are getting ready for an occupied off -season after one among their reconstruction. The negotiation of a brand new contract for Cam Thomas shall be amongst their major enterprise orders.
Thomas stays some of the polarizing younger gamers within the NBA on the finish of his recruit contract. The 23 -year -old has flashed an elite rating potential, with a mean of twenty-two.9 factors out of 44/36/86 of the capturing on 91 appearances within the final two seasons. Nonetheless, considerations about its creation of video games, protection and sturdiness have raised questions to seek out out whether it is price a big lengthy -term dedication.
NBA wage ceiling knowledgeable Yossi Gozlan projected Thomas’ subsequent settlement on the Podcast Bleav in Nets.
“I imply, look, Cam Johnson obtained 4 years, $ 90 million. [Nic] Claxton obtained 4 years, $ 100 million. I suppose one thing barely increased than that. Maybe 4 years, $ 105 million or as 5 years, $ 130 million, “mentioned Gozlan.” And it might be a little bit increased, however simply relying on what they’ve given to those guys, I suppose it’s one thing related on this vary. “”
“I’d guess 4 years, $ 105 million or 5 years, 130 million {dollars} … whether it is nonetheless progressing and earns lower than $ 30 million a 12 months because the ceiling will increase, will probably be an excellent deal.”@Yossigozlan predicts the subsequent Cam Thomas contract with the nets pic.twitter.com/fbzqpbomat
– Erik Slater (@erikslater_) March 21, 2025
The nets will maintain an necessary lever impact in negotiations with Thomas. They’re the one NBA crew planning to have a big ceiling area this summer season, with $ 50 million at 65 million {dollars} out there. The opposing groups that search to signal Thomas to a provide sheet shall be restricted except an intermediate stage non-tax (14.1 million {dollars}).
Projection of the subsequent Cam Thomas contract with the nets
The signature of Cam Thomas has a protracted -term settlement, as proposed by Gozlan, would permit Brooklyn to lock it in an expensive order wage because the cap will increase. League leaders count on the wage ceiling to extend 10% for a number of years as a consequence of an settlement of $ 76 billion on media rights. Given their reconstruction calendar and their league ceiling area, the nets may gain advantage from the entrance -term settlement from Thomas from the entrance, as they not too long ago did with Nic Claxton.
A Thomas contract in accordance with the construction of Claxton, adjusted for the elevated wage ceiling, can be as follows:
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- 2025-26: $ 30.3 million (19.6% of the ceiling)
- 2026-27: $ 27.9 million (16.39% of the ceiling)
- 2027-28: 25.5 million {dollars} (13.61% of the ceiling)
- 2028-29: 23.0 million {dollars} (11.19% of the ceiling)
- Whole: 4 years, 106.7 million {dollars}
The construction would pay Thomas between 11 and 14% of the wage ceiling within the final two years of the contract, tied with excessive -end position gamers of the League.
“If he nonetheless progresses a little bit, so long as there isn’t a decline, if he earns lower than $ 30 million a 12 months because the ceiling will increase, this shall be an excellent deal,” Gozlan mentioned about some great benefits of a protracted -term contract.
Nonetheless, a 4 -year contract at greater than $ 25 million AAV is as much as Thomas projections, as Gozlan famous. Keith Smith of Spotrac provided a way more modest prediction – three years, $ 45 million – in its overview of the restricted free company in 2025.
“Thomas can rating. It’s a higher playmaker that the majority of them do it. The nets are unable to let younger abilities exit, however Brooklyn can not but begin to pay the fellows an excessive amount of,” mentioned Smith. “Except there’s a crew that falls in love and desires to work on an indication and alternate settlement for Thomas, count on Brooklyn to carry it again to a strong worth contract. Consider what Coby White has signed, in addition to a little bit to symbolize the brand new ceiling atmosphere. From there, it’s in Thomas to outdo the settlement, a bit like White. ”
Thomas’ illustration may put stress for a brief -term settlement, permitting it to enter into the free future within the close to future. Such an settlement would permit the web to take care of lengthy -term flexibility whereas including a medium -sized wage negotiable to their books in the event that they need to rotate and alternate a star. Nonetheless, it’s unlikely that Thomas will settle for an annual wage of $ 15 million in such a situation, given his emotions about his manufacturing since Brooklyn’s rotation fell in love.
“After I had main minutes, I really feel like I used to be probably the greatest guards within the League at my submit,” mentioned Thomas after his damage to the hamstrings on the finish of the season. “When I’ve the minute in a star position, the sky is the restrict for me. We’ve seen that previously two years.”
A number of league sources have instructed clutch factors that they count on that the Thomas market is between $ 18 and 24 million a 12 months. The length of the settlement of the previous first -round alternative might be a revealing signal in regards to the Brooklyn reconstruction plans.
