Cam Thomas lingered in restricted free agency for much of the summer, hoping for a big contract that never came. Now, armed with just a one-year, $6 million qualifying offer, he enters another prove-it season in Brooklyn, gambling on himself to shape his future.
The Nets reportedly put two offers on the table for Thomas: a two-year, $30 million deal with a team option and a one-year, $9.5 million contract that could have reached $11 million with incentives but required waiving his no-trade clause.
Fresh off a four-year, $10.46 million rookie contract, the 23-year-old chose to pass on both offers.
“I’d rather control my situation,” Thomas said. “As a player, that’s the type of control you want in your situation. So, I just wanted to keep that aspect of it. It doesn’t really matter what the conversations were. I’m just here to play my game and keep doing what I was doing.”
Thomas is betting that if he stays healthy and builds on his production, he can secure a richer, multi-year deal as an unrestricted free agent in 2026, whether in Brooklyn or elsewhere. Protecting his leverage has become Thomas’ priority, a reality general manager Sean Marks addressed when weighing in on the standoff.
“I think both sides understand what’s at stake, but I also don’t want to jump to conclusions,” Marks said. “Just because a common ground couldn’t be met this summer doesn’t mean he’s not a Net in the future or throughout the season.”
It’s a bold bet, and one that carries real risk.
Thomas missed 57 games in 2024–25, sidelined mostly by a lingering left hamstring issue. In the 25 games he did play, he delivered career-best numbers: 24.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 43.8% from the field, 34.9% from 3-point range and 88.1% at the free throw line.
When healthy, Thomas proved he can score at an elite level. But his availability was limited, and the Nets went just 18–39 without him. Another injury-riddled season could further drive down his market value, and without a long-term deal in place, his financial safety net remains thin.
If Thomas’ scoring dips this season, or if he fails to improve his efficiency, it will only reinforce the perception that he’s a one-dimensional or microwave scorer, a label that could further weaken his leverage in contract talks. His value is tied directly to playing time and shot making, both of which could be harder to come by if his role shifts.
Brooklyn is trying to work five first-round picks into the rotation, four of them guards. Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell and Ben Saraf are seen as the backcourt of the future, and they’ll get opportunities if ready. Should the Nets cut back Thomas’ minutes, it would obviously limit his ability to showcase his game.
However, the risks extend beyond health and performance. The 2026 market will be crowded, and cap space will be tight around the league. With more competition for limited money, and a front office he may have alienated by walking away from a team-friendly extension, Thomas could find himself with fewer suitors than expected.
“You obviously look at everything, and you consider everything, but at the end of the day I felt like there was more pros to me taking the QO than me taking any other deal, honestly,” Thomas said.
But what if Thomas’ bet actually hits?
With another strong season, one that pairs high-usage scoring with efficiency, improved playmaking, defensive focus and a clear impact on winning, Thomas could establish himself as one of the league’s most dangerous young scorers and a player worth building around. He’ll be free to market himself to any team in need of offensive firepower, without the Nets holding matching rights.
If the rookies stumble out of the gate, Thomas’ stock soars. Should he seize the role of Brooklyn’s go-to scorer, even with a veteran such as Michael Porter Jr. on the roster, he could force the franchise to pay up and make him part of its foundation. And if he thrives, the gamble becomes legend — a young guard who bet on himself and finally made the league believe.
“He looks great, his body, the way he’s worked, and watching him play pickup with his teammates,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said. “And I think that’s the most important thing, focusing on what’s in front of you and seeing him fight and compete at the highest level.”
Adversity has shadowed Thomas since he entered the league. Coaching changes, labels that stuck, trade rumors, constant uncertainty. Now comes his greatest test. This season, this bet, is about more than money or minutes. It’s about conviction — the belief that his talent, his work and his resilience can take him where doubters insist he won’t go.
The risk is undeniable, but so is his faith in himself. His career’s next chapter will be written in real time, one shot, one game, one gamble at a time.
“It’ll all come back around,” Thomas said. “But really just playing my game and really understanding what Jordi wants. So, I think that’s really what helped me and another year of that will be even better, so I can’t wait to get started.”
