The NBA season has officially started, with all NBA teams completing games, many teams undergoing roster changes and history being made. The Brooklyn Nets lost their season opener to the Atlanta Hawks, 116-120. Cam Thomas led the Nets in scoring, finishing with 36 points, three assists, and five rebounds. Ben Simmons started at center and had six points, eight assists, and five rebounds. Simmons has been one of the most talked about players this offseason, with questions surrounding his ability to stay healthy and play at a high level after missing many games over the past three seasons with the Nets.
What No Cam Thomas Extension Means for the Nets
Extensions Across the NBA
All 30 teams in the league had until 6:00 PM on Monday to reach agreements with players on rookie contracts for extensions. Players that received rookie extensions at the deadline included Jaden Hardy of the Dallas Mavericks, Jalen Suggs of the Orlando Magic, Corey Kispert of the Washington Wizards, Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun of the Houston Rockets, Trey Murphy III of the New Orleans Pelicans, Jalen Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks, and Moses Moody of the Golden State Warriors.
Brooklyn Nets Fail to Extend Cam Thomas
As for the Nets, questions arose about whether the team and guard Cam Thomas would reach an extension by the deadline. The team and Thomas did not reach an extension by the deadline on Monday at 6:00 PM. As a result, Thomas is set to become a restricted free agent this summer. Thomas is a gifted scorer, but his impact outside of scoring is unclear. Last season, he averaged 22.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists. On a tanking Nets team, Thomas’ stats, especially his points per game, will likely increase. However, it’s still unclear what his contract should be value-wise. Letting Thomas test restricted free agency allows Brooklyn to gauge his market value while being able to match any offer. Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe and offseason pickup forward Ziaire Williams, who were also eligible, did not receive extensions either.
When asked about Thomas’ situation, Nets head coach Jordi Fernández responded,
“Yeah, conversations have been great. “I think he’s in a good place, and I didn’t see anything that I should go and talk to him about it, the way he feels. I think he’s been great, and he has done his job, and we have a clear path and direction for what we’re trying to do.”
Thomas’ Focus Is On Winning
Prior to the Nets season-opener against the Hawks, Brian Lewis of the New York Post asked Thomas about not getting the extension done.
“Just getting ready to play the Atlanta Hawks. So, that’s all I’m focused on,” Thomas said. “I don’t really care about all the extra stuff. Just worried about trying to get a win.”
Although the Nets lost to the Hawks, Thomas showed on Wednesday that he is focused on winning and contributing. He scored 20 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter in an attempt to help the Nets win. While the Nets will likely be one of the league’s worst teams Thomas will be a clear bright spot.
Nets Change Their Contract Approach
The Brooklyn Nets seem to be sending the message that they are no longer an organization that throws contracts around to players indiscriminately. The team has suffered a lot in the past, with players given large contracts who either demanded a trade or dealt with injuries. The Nets now have more roster flexibility this season and next summer. The Nets will play their second game of the season on Friday, October 25th, against the Orlando Magic in Orlando.
