The Brooklyn Nets and star guard Cam Thomas did not safe an extension yesterday, which means the 23-year-old is about to grow to be a restricted free agent in 2025. The deadline for gamers on rookie contracts to obtain a extension was on October 21, and whereas many acquired these profitable offers, Thomas was not one among them.
There have been no reviews of something near a deal because the deadline approached, and Thomas, together with teammates Day’Ron Sharpe and Ziaire Williams, additionally didn’t obtain extensions. Thomas’ future with the franchise has grow to be somewhat extra unclear, so what does that imply?
With Thomas set to hit free company in 2025, he might be restricted, which means Brooklyn can match any provide one other crew throws at him.
Thomas will probably stay a Internet after hitting free company, particularly as a result of the group has the cap area to maintain him. Apart from Ben Simmons, the Nets aren’t paying anybody greater than $29 million this season. Veterans like Dennis Schroder, Cameron Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith are every making over $13 million this season. Nonetheless, all indicators level to them being traded sooner or later earlier than the deadline this season.
Except Thomas makes it clear he desires to depart Brooklyn or the crew decides to not match a suggestion subsequent summer time, the 23-year-old is predicted to remain in Brooklyn.
Earlier than Nets followers go loopy over this one, hearken to the reason. Brooklyn is coming into the primary official season of a long-awaited rebuild. In June, the crew started stacking up draft picks after buying and selling Mikal Bridges, and Brooklyn will apparently concentrate on the 2025 NBA Draft and past.
Thomas is a prolific younger scorer, however he hasn’t been efficient and hasn’t translated his numbers into wins for the Nets. In his first season as a star in Brooklyn, Thomas averaged 22.5 factors on 44.2% capturing from the sector, however did not do a lot else in some other division.
Ideally, the Nets ought to look to retain their younger star and proceed to develop him right into a profitable participant. Nevertheless, nobody is aware of Thomas’ peak, and it is nonetheless potential that his commerce worth is at an all-time excessive proper now. He isn’t in the identical tier as the highest 23-and-under stars, and now that he’ll enter free company over the summer time, the Nets may think about buying and selling him for an immense quantity of belongings for the longer term.
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