Guard Cam Thomas believes he’s one of the best offensive talents in the NBA as he continues to be a free agent for the Brooklyn Nets. Thomas reportedly wants a new deal that would allow him to earn between $24 million and $30 million a season. However, no team has yet to offer him that amount of money, as his rookie-scale contract is set to expire this summer.
Last season, Thomas showed significant improvement on the offensive end. He averaged 24 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists on 43.8% shooting from the field. Despite playing just 25 games in the 2024–25 season, the 6-foot-4 shooting guard demonstrated his exceptional skill as a basketball player.
On Sunday, however, an NBA insider revealed that several team scouts view Thomas as a bench player. Although he’s a great offensive star, scouts from both conferences want more from a potential first option.
“He can flat-out score, no doubt about that,” an Eastern Conference scout said via Grant Afseth. “But teams want more than a bucket-getter at that price point. You’re talking $25–30 million per year — there’s got to be some defensive buy-in, some playmaking, some winning impact. That’s where the hesitation is.
“If you’re building a team, are you giving Cam Thomas that kind of money to be your top option? Probably not,” a Western Conference scout said about the Brooklyn Nets guard. “And if he’s your third guy, that’s a big number for someone who doesn’t defend or create for his teammates at a high level.”
Many NBA teams view Cam Thomas as a bench player who wants star money, per @GrantAfseth
(h/t @Fullcourtpass) pic.twitter.com/xrA9IvvOnG
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 27, 2025
“He’s a talented scorer, but he’s kind of stuck in the middle right now. He wants star money, but a lot of teams see him more like a microwave scorer off the bench,” they added.
Being a bench player isn’t something that Thomas would want to have after leading the Nets in points per game last season.
An anonymous Western Conference scout addressed the Utah Jazz’s link to the Brooklyn Nets’ free agent
Thomas has not attracted the attention of many teams. Aside from the Brooklyn Nets, the Utah Jazz is the only team that could make a move for the free agent guard. In Afseth’s latest piece, an anonymous Western Conference scout revealed that the former No. 27 pick doesn’t fit the team’s long-term plans.
“As of July 25, the Utah Jazz are the only team aside from Brooklyn with meaningful spending power,” Afseth wrote. “But league sources are skeptical about Utah’s interest.
“They’re building around defense, size, and versatility,’ a Western Conference scout said. ‘Cam is a pure scorer, but he doesn’t fit the long-term vision they’re selling internally.”
Although the Jazz have a young group, they believe Thomas isn’t the right player for their system and their future. If he doesn’t end up in Utah, there’s a chance he’ll return to Brooklyn and accept the $5.99 million qualifying offer.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
