Cam Thomas started out fire Friday night in Macao, going 6-of-6 in the first quarter of the Brooklyn Nets contest vs. the Phoenix Suns. For Thomas, it was a good start to his make-or-break season as he plays
out the remainder of his Nets contract on a qualifying offer that will pay him $6.0 million, far less than what he had hoped from. If he can change the NBA perception of his game, he’s hopeful there’s a big payday next July when between 10 and 14 NBA teams will have cap space, unlike this year when Brooklyn had a monopoly.
He finished with 22 points on shooting splits of 58/50/100 adding six assists and three rebounds in 24 minutes in the 132-127 overtime loss in the first of the NBA China Games. There were defensive lapses, one that caught his head coach’s attention when he lost Collin Gillespie for a buzzer-beating 3 to end the half.
“NBA games are about the details. We gave up a 3 at the end of the second quarter. It would’ve been a 15-point game, and instead it ended up being 12. … Then we gave up another 3 at the end of the third. Those are six points,” Fernandez said. “I want the guys to be focused not just at the end, but throughout the game.”
That said, Thomas looked a more mature and skilled playmaker. He is focused on that now? Not necessarily.
“No, I’m just playing my game,” Thomas said. “Teams are going to double me, so that’s going to lead to assists. When the guys make the shots it’s going to lead to assists. So I’m just going to play my game, and if that requires the assists, then great.
“But I’m still a scorer at heart. It’s also adding that playmaking aspect, being able to make the right play and keep the defense [honest]. So I’m just going to read the game. Some games it might be a lot of assists, and most of the game is going to be a lot of points. It’s just about reading the game and taking what the defense gives me.”
And despite the failure of team and player to get something more definitive done, Thomas said he and Fernandez are on the same page re his primary role, scoring next to Michael Porter Jr., who truth be told was even worse defensively.
“Yeah, me and Jordi always talk about it, we always have conversations about it,” Thomas said. “Jordi is also very understanding of who I am as a player. He knows I’m a scorer and he knows how I play.
“But it’s also the fine line of being aggressive, get your own shot and then getting guys other shots. We always have that dialogue, and it’s great. So this year we have a better understanding. He has a better understanding of me, and I have a better understanding of what he wants. So that’s just going to lead to great things for us as a unit. So it’s definitely on the trend up.”
As Brian Lewis wrote Saturday, Thomas rejected both of Brooklyn’s reported offers, a two-year, $30 million deal and a $9.5 million deal with incentives. Indeed, a league insider told NetsDaily that negotiations were so cursory that in the end, Thomas’ team didn’t even make a counter-offer. “It never got that far,” said the source.
At this point, it looks like Thomas will be around the whole season. The Nets remain the only team with cap space and will through the trade deadline, barring some surprise. So it seems unlikely he’ll be traded. He’ll have to approve any deal as well. Could he and the Nets get it together in the end? They do control his Bird Rights and he’s said he likes Brooklyn and particularly the fans. So stay tuned.
Meanwhile, the Nets used their off-day between Games 1 and 2 of the China games honoring fans and getting in some practice, including some celebrity mentoring…
Not to mention sampling some of the local fare…
- Cam Thomas has plenty to prove to himself and Nets in contract year ($) – Brian Lewis – New York Post
