{"id":152643,"date":"2025-07-30T07:00:55","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T11:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=152643"},"modified":"2025-07-29T22:43:21","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T02:43:21","slug":"brooklyn-nets-breakup-rising-guard-cam-thomas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/07\/30\/brooklyn-nets-breakup-rising-guard-cam-thomas\/","title":{"rendered":"Brooklyn Nets Trending Toward Breakup With Rising Guard"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Throughout 2024-25, the Brooklyn Nets were expected to re-sign guard <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/thomaca02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cam Thomas<\/a>. Thomas, a restricted free agent, hasn\u2019t received a satisfactory offer from the team. Could a <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/07\/28\/cam-thomas-fit-detroit-pistons-young-core\/\" target=\"_self\">Cam Thomas-Nets breakup<\/a> be coming?<\/p>\n<h2>Brooklyn Nets Trending Toward Breakup With Rising Guard<\/h2>\n<p>The Nets began rebuilding by drafting an NBA-record five players in the first round of the 2025 NBA draft. Before free agency, they made it clear they would not pursue players on the market. To maintain roster stability, they re-signed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/willizi02.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-29_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ziaire Williams<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/sharpda01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-29_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Day&#8217;Ron Sharpe<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/e\/etienty01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-29_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tyson Etienne<\/a>. In a surprise trade, they sent forward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/johnsca02.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-29_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cameron Johnson<\/a> to the Denver Nuggets for forward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/portemi01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-29_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Michael Porter Jr.<\/a> The team reportedly <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.cbssports.com\/fantasy\/basketball\/news\/nets-cam-thomas-receives-qualifying-offer\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">extended a qualifying offer to Thomas<\/a> in June, but he remains <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/07\/18\/nets-contract-offer-to-cam-thomas-will-shock-you\/\" target=\"_self\">unsigned<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Selected 27th by the Nets in the first round of the 2021 draft, Thomas was mentored by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/i\/irvinky01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-29_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kyrie Irving<\/a>. Known for his shooting, Thomas delivered an impressive season despite an unresolved contract, trade rumors, and injuries. He averaged 24.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. He continued to show improvement each time he played.<\/p>\n<p>If Thomas and the Nets don\u2019t come to an agreement soon, could another team make the offer he is looking for? Maybe not. In a recent article by Brian Lewis of the New York Post, he credits Thomas with being a rising star and a fan favorite, yet some other organizations are not as impressed. <a  href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/07\/29\/sports\/the-polarizing-perceptions-at-heart-of-cam-thomas-nets-divide\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Lewis wrote<\/a>, \u201cCam Thomas is one of the more divisive players in the NBA. He has a legion of loud fans huffing his fumes and praising his scoring. He also has a number of league front offices less sold on the young Nets guard.\u201d Lewis continued, \u201cA restricted free agent with no team other than his own in position to pay him anywhere near what he\u2019s believed to want, Thomas\u2019 contractual saga could drag on for a while this summer. And theoretically maybe even into the fall.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Social Media<\/h3>\n<p>Thomas is confident in what he has to offer. However, the process and critiques are frustrating him. He did not take kindly to NBA analyst <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RTNBA\/status\/1945468681745522815?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1946250854513697190%7Ctwgr%5Eb1d100e4fb49b2d0de57d8c9553399df521f56e1%7Ctwcon%5Es3_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fnba%2Fnets%2Fnews%2Fcam-thomas-unfollows-nets-on-instagram-deletes-brooklyn-related-posts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Zach Lowe\u2019s post<\/a>, referring to him as an \u201cEmpty Calories Ball Hog.\u201d <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/24_camthomas\/status\/1946250854513697190?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1946250854513697190%7Ctwgr%5Eb1d100e4fb49b2d0de57d8c9553399df521f56e1%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fnba%2Fnets%2Fnews%2Fcam-thomas-unfollows-nets-on-instagram-deletes-brooklyn-related-posts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Thomas responded<\/a> with a strongly worded message on X. He then unfollowed the team on Instagram and deleted all Nets-related posts.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_151022\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-151022\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-151022 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/07\/USATSI_25642697_168415934_lowres-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Mar 11, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) looks to the basket in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/07\/USATSI_25642697_168415934_lowres-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/07\/USATSI_25642697_168415934_lowres-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/07\/USATSI_25642697_168415934_lowres-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/07\/USATSI_25642697_168415934_lowres-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/07\/USATSI_25642697_168415934_lowres-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/07\/USATSI_25642697_168415934_lowres-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/07\/USATSI_25642697_168415934_lowres-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-151022\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mar 11, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) looks to the basket in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Possible Suitors<\/h3>\n<p>Thomas&#8217;s gifts as a scorer, passer, and defender could benefit multiple rosters. One team that could sign him is the Houston Rockets because of their available cap space. They have a connection to Thomas through forward <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/duranke01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kevin Durant<\/a>, his former Nets teammate. Head coach Ime Udoka, who is expected to lead the team for many seasons, could significantly influence Thomas. Udoka helped shape Boston Celtics stars <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tatumja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jayson Tatum<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/brownja02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jaylen Brown<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Another team that could make an offer for Thomas is the Milwaukee Bucks, now seeking younger talent. Today&#8217;s NBA values players with mid-range shooting and shot creation ability. Thomas matches that style and, with youth, could help fix a franchise\u2019s issues.<\/p>\n<h3>The Last Word On A Cam Thomas-Nets Breakup<\/h3>\n<p>Nets fans would hate to see Thomas go. Although the team offered what he considers an undervalued contract, they still have time to pitch a new offer. Training camp begins in late September. We may have to wait until the end of the summer to find out if <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/06\/30\/cam-thomas-free-agent-nets-future\/\" target=\"_self\">Thomas and Nets break up,<\/a> but that seems to be the direction they&#8217;re heading in.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Featured image: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Throughout 2024-25, the Brooklyn Nets were expected to re-sign guard Cam Thomas. Thomas, a restricted free agent, hasn\u2019t received a satisfactory offer from the team. Could a Cam Thomas-Nets breakup be coming? Brooklyn Nets Trending Toward Breakup With Rising Guard The Nets began rebuilding by drafting an NBA-record five players in the first round of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5340,"featured_media":151079,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,6,62],"tags":[4069],"class_list":["post-152643","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-nets","category-nba","tag-cam-thomas"],"modified_by":"Kayla Fonte","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152643","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5340"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=152643"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152643\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":152725,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152643\/revisions\/152725"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/151079"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=152643"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=152643"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=152643"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}