Tag: cam thomas

2024-25 Brooklyn Nets: A quick preview

The Brooklyn Nets have finally decided to fully embrace a rebuild, starting by trading away Mikal Bridges and reclaiming control over their next two drafts. This strategic shift gives the franchise the flexibility to chart a new course. The big …

The Brooklyn Nets have finally decided to fully embrace a rebuild, starting by trading away Mikal Bridges and reclaiming control over their next two drafts. This strategic shift gives the franchise the flexibility to chart a new course. The big question now is whether Brooklyn will also look to move other key players like Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Dennis Schroeder, who all have potential trade value. Even Nic Claxton, fresh off his offseason re-signing, could become a trade asset when he’s eligible to be moved this season (which is January 15, 2025).

While expectations are low for the Nets, the departure of Bridges opens the door for a new star to take center stage. Cam Thomas, who averaged 22.5 points per game last season, will now have an even larger role, solidifying his rising trajectory. The 22-year-old guard is emerging as a key building block for the team’s future or a valuable trade asset. Meanwhile, Schroeder, coming off a stellar performance in the 2024 Paris Olympics, will run the offense at point guard. Nic Claxton’s new long-term deal provides some stability in the paint for Brooklyn.

Despite this foundation, the Nets seem poised to tank in hopes of landing a top prospect, potentially someone like Cooper Flagg, as they fully commit to a long-term rebuild.

Chiefs acquire LB Cameron Thomas in trade with Cardinals

The Kansas City #Chiefs acquired LB Cameron Thomas in a trade with the Arizona #Cardinals. | @EdEastonJr

According to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Kansas City Chiefs acquired linebacker Cameron Thomas in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night.

In exchange for Thomas, Kansas City sent Arizona a future seventh-round pick. With this move, the Chiefs are adding more edge depth, which will be needed as they await the return of injured pass rusher Charles Omenihu.

Thomas was a third-round selection in the 2022 NFL draft. In his last year at San Diego State, the Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, Walter Camp Foundation, and the Sporting News named him a second-team All-American.

He was also a first-team All-Mountain West selection as a redshirt junior and was named the conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Though he is listed as a linebacker, Thomas is at his best when utilized as a pass rusher.

Expect to see this promising prospect fight for playing time ahead of Kansas City’s Week 1 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on September 5.

Nets’ Cam Thomas embracing role increase after Mikal Bridges trade

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas knows that his role will be even bigger after the Mikal Bridges trade, but he seems to be ready for it.

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas has been seeing his role change drastically from the 2022-23 season with the superstar era and last season with a team in need of scoring. After the Nets traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks last summer, Thomas is set up for an even bigger role heading into the 2024-25 campaign.

“Just knowing that and embracing it. Attacking it head-on. I’ve kind of been having those roles [as the leader of the team] ever since I was in high school and college,” Thomas said when asked about his role after the Mikal Bridges trade recently in an interview with Curtis Rowser III of SLAM magazine. Last season with the first time in Thomas’ three seasons that he had a consistent role in the starting lineup and he thrived as a result.

“So, I’m not really worried about it,” Thomas said. “I’m just excited to get it going and to try to do it in the League. I’m not really worried about it at all; I’m just ready.”

Thomas went from averaging 10.6 points and 1.4 assists per game during the 2022-23 season to dropping 22.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per contest while shooting 44.2% from the field and 36.4% from three-point land. After leading the Nets in scoring last season, Thomas will be expected to do that and more for a rebuilding Brooklyn team that will have even less established production.

Thomas previously spoke on how the offseason has been going for him and how he has been working to improve his skill set so that he can be even more effective. From the comments that he made about embracing his leadership role, Thomas sounds like he’s ready to be the best player for a Nets team that has always hoped that he could fill that kind of role.

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Nets’ Cam Thomas discusses offseason progress, skill set improvements

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas recently did an interview with Curtis Rowser III of SLAM magazine to discuss his offseason and skill work.

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is heading into an important season for his career as he is eligible for an extension this summer and will be a free-agent next offseason if the extension doesn’t happen before then. Now that Thomas is essentially destined for another starring offensive role, he recently talked about what he is doing this offseason to prepare.

“It’s been good. Just laying low, resetting, getting ready for next season. It’s been real good,” Thomas said in an interview with Curtis Rowser III of SLAM magazine about how the offseason has been going for him so far. Thomas will be one of the most interesting players on the Nets this season given what is expected of him for this upcoming season.

“I usually try to go with a clean slate because you never know,” Thomas said about how he approaches every offseason. “Stuff changes from year to year, like coaches, schemes, etc. This summer was probably the longest I took off—about two or three weeks. Then I got right back to it.”

What makes Thomas so interesting to the Nets fanbase and media is because of how his career has changed along with how the organization has changed over the years. Thomas went from having an inconsistent role in the rotation during the superstar era of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving to now having full rein of the offense for a rebuilding franchise that needs him to be a scorer and playmaker.

Thomas knows that his main contribution to the Nets will be what he does with his scoring, as evidenced by his 22.5 points per game last season that led the team despite having to share the scoring responsibilities with players like Mikal Bridges and Dennis Schroder. He had this to say about how he approaches that reality:

“I just want to keep working on everything. Last summer, I tried to put more emphasis on catch-and-shoot shooting, and I think I was way up in the League percentage-wise on catch-and-shoot [this past season]. So, just continue to work on that and fine-tuning the skills I had coming into the League, like my off-the-dribble stuff and finishing around the basket, [while] still improving on catch-and-shoot, trying to have the best percentage in the League.”

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How can Cam Thomas grow into his role as a point guard for the Brooklyn Nets?

Is he ready to take on such a role for Brooklyn in the coming campaign?

How can Cam Thomas grow into his role as a point guard for the Brooklyn Nets in the 2024-25 NBA season ahead? Now that the ball club has picked a direction (namely, playing a little ‘capture the Flagg’ by strip mining the roster for assets), the hierarchy of the Nets’ backcourt has come into a sharper focus. The trade of Mikal Bridges and the departure of Dennis Smith Jr. ought to open up plenty of time for Thomas to spread his wings.

Is he ready to take on such a role for Brooklyn in the coming campaign? If so, he will need to work in tandem with his teammates on shoring up the Nets’ weaknesses on the offensive side of the court.

To talk over Thomas’ role with the team in the season ahead, the hosts of the “Locked on Nets” podcast, Adam Armbrecht and Doug Norrie, took some time on a recent episode. Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say.

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Nets’ Cam Thomas is looking forward to being a leader this season

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is set to be the primary scorer for a rebuilding Nets team, but he is also looking forward to being a leader.

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is slated for an important role for the 2024-25 season as he will most likely be the lead scorer for the rebuilding franchise. After last season in which he put his name on the map by scoring 22.5 points per game, Thomas is looking to expand his game beyond the tangible.

“Just being more of a leader. I’m really honing in on that and starting early with that,” Thomas said last month to Erik Slater of ClutchPoints when asked about what’s the next step for him. Thomas rose to being one of Brooklyn’s best players last season despite not having a stable role in the rotation until the second half of the season.

“I kind of did it towards the second half of last year because it’s something I wanted to try as the year went on,” Thomas explained. “I’m gonna try to start this year off focusing on that because, honestly, I am [a leader]. I think I’m the second-longest tenured guy on the team, so I am one of the leaders on the team. So I’m definitely trying to hone in on that.”

Heading into this upcoming season, Thomas will be the primary scorer on the team especially after the Nets traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks last month for as many as five first-round picks and three players.

There are still plenty of veterans from last season remaining on the roster, but regardless of what other trades happen between now and the beginning of the season, Thomas is ready to be everything that is required of a team’s best player.

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Nets’ Cam Thomas explains how Mikal Bridges trade changes his role

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas will be walking into a new opportunity to lead the offense and he explained what that new role looks like.

The Brooklyn Nets have committed to a full-scale rebuild after they traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks in exchange for three players and as many as five first-round picks. Now that Bridges is with the Knicks, Brooklyn will be looking for its next star, but one of their current players will also get an increased opportunity to show what he can do.

Nets guard Cam Thomas is one of the most popular players within the Nets fanbase and rightfully so given how well he played last season for a Brooklyn team that needed scoring. Thomas, who went from scoring 10.6 points per game in the 2022-23 season to 22.5 points per game this past season, will now have to get used to life without Bridges following the surprising trade.

“I wouldn’t say it changes, but [there will] probably be more of an emphasis on what I’m supposed to do, you know, scoring the ball and playmaking for the guys,” Thomas recently said to Erik Slater of ClutchPoints at the Las Vegas Summer League when asked when will change now that Brooklyn is headed into a rebuild.

Prior to the Nets trading Bridges, the franchise was operating under the belief of adding another star-level player to pair with Bridges and Thomas so that the team could make it back to the playoffs and compete. However, now that Bridges is gone, Thomas will most likely be the leader of the offense, especially if Brooklyn ends up trading some of the veterans that remain on the roster.

“So, I wouldn’t necessarily say it changes what I do, because I’ve been doing the same thing since I’ve been here,” Thomas explained. “I’ll probably just take it to a different level, for sure.” One thing that is for certain is that Thomas will be getting enough opportunities to show what he can do for an organization looking for star power.

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Nets reveal new logos, merchandise ahead of the 2024-25 season

The Brooklyn Nets have recently posted what their new logos and merchandise will look like as they head into the 2024-25 season.

The Brooklyn Nets are in the middle of a rebuild after trading Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks for as many as five first-round picks and three players. Heading into the 2024-25 season, Brooklyn will look different on the court, but after some recent news, they will look different off the court as well.

The Nets recently posted a video on X of them having some new logos and merchandise that coincides with their new branding and how they want to resemble Brooklyn as much as possible. Not only will Brooklyn have different logos than what fans have been used to for the past few years, but they have been promoting the new clothing as well.

The Nets explain everything that is changing in a post on their website and fans can see where the franchise has come from and where it is going in its most recent rebrand. For those fans looking for the team to be different after the failure of the Big 3 era, they can look towards the future knowing that a lot of aspects are changing.

In one of Brooklyn’s posts on X, Cam Thomas and Nic Claxton, two key pillars of the current rebuild, are shown wearing bucket hats with one of the new logos on them. Not only does that show everyone how the merchandise can look in real life, but they also know two of the players that are expected to be around for awhile.

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Nets’ Cam Thomas throws out first pitch at Mets-Nationals game

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas threw out the first pitch for Thursday’s New York Mets home game against the Washington Nationals.

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas has been one of the main players that the fanbase has talked about because of the way that he scores the basketball. Big things are expected out of Thomas heading into the 2024-25 season and now, it looks like he’s getting recognition for the position he’s in.

Thomas threw out the first pitch at Citi Field on Thursday prior to the New York Mets’ matchup against the Washington Nationals. Typically, first pitches are reserved for those that are deemed to be celebrities or someone that the fans at the game would recognize and it looks like Thomas now fits that distinction.

The Mets went on to beat the Nationals 7-0 to complete a three-game sweep of Washington as the Mets look to remain in the playoff picture in the National League. It’s hard to say if Thomas being at the game had anything to do with how the Mets played, but it looks like his presence did not hurt their efforts towards winning either.

Thomas is poised for a huge season as he will most likely be the primary scorer for a Nets team that is in the midst of a full rebuild following the trade of Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks in exchange for three players and as many as five first-round picks.

Thomas is coming off a 2023-24 season in which he averaged 22.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 44.2% from the field and 36.4% from three-point range.

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Why the Nets could delay extensions for Cam Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe

The Brooklyn Nets are now embarking on a full-scale rebuild and Cam Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe are eligible for extensions. What happens now?

The Brooklyn Nets have made their decision to enter a full rebuild after trading Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks last season for forward Bojan Bogdanovic and as many as five first-round picks. Now that Bridges is elsewhere, Brooklyn can focus on the future, including the matters of paying two of their younger players on the roster.

As the Nets navigate their new reality as a team with a boatload of draft picks from now through 2031, the franchise now has to think about which players to invest in as part of their future, which brings up guard Cam Thomas and center Day’Ron Sharpe. Both are eligible for extensions this summer, but NBA salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan recently explained why Brooklyn may be better served to wait on those extensions.

“They’re (the Nets) in a position to generate somewhere between $30 (million) to $50 million in cap space. I could see them moving on from Dorian Finney-Smith at some point which could help further increase those projections. Now, some of these (projections) factor in Cam Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe making it to restricted free agency.” Gozlan said.

Essentially, what Gozlan is explaining is that if Brooklyn were to extend Thomas and Sharpe this offseason, those extensions would lower their cap space for the 2025 offseason when the free-agent class is expected to be more star-studded than this summer.

For example, Thomas’ restricted free-agent cap hold next summer will be $12.1 million, but if the Nets were to extend him this offseason for $25 million per year, that means that Brooklyn goes into next summer with $12.9 million less than they would have if they waited to extend Thomas in 2025.

Granted, Gozlan made his video on the matter prior to the Nets trading Bridges away and re-signing center Nic Claxton to a four-year, $100 million deal so it’s likely now that Brooklyn isn’t worried about next offseason’s free-agent class.

However, as Gozlan also points out, if the Nets accomplish everything that they want to this summer, there’s also no reason for them not to extend Thomas and Sharpe if the organization views them as building blocks for the future.

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