Nets guard Cam Thomas is eligible for a rookie scale extension till Oct. 21. If he doesn’t signal an extension, he’ll be eligible for restricted free company subsequent summer season.
Chatting with Erik Slater of Clutch Factors on the Bleav in Nets podcast (YouTube hyperlink), Brian Lewis of The New York Publish stated opinions on Thomas range wildly across the NBA, making it troublesome to get a learn on what kind of contract he may obtain in a doable extension or as a RFA.
“With Cam Thomas, there isn’t a kind of baseline,” Lewis stated. “Some scouts, they suppose he walks on water, they love him. ‘Oh, he’s a bucket. Oh, he’s this, he’s that.’ Others wouldn’t contact him with a ten-foot pole. They need no a part of it. It doesn’t matter what he’s getting paid, they don’t need any a part of it.
“I’ve by no means seen a participant like this, frankly, that’s, after I say he’s divisive, I don’t imply that he’s divisive within the locker room and guys don’t get together with him. I imply, there isn’t a kind of settlement between scouts or entrance workplace personnel [on] what his worth is in the marketplace, or how good of a participant can he be.”
Listed here are some extra notes on the NBA’s two New York-based groups:
- Oddsmakers suppose the Nets could have the worst report within the league in 2024/25. Critics of Cam Thomas suppose he’s only a high-volume scorer on a foul group. He’s out to show his doubters incorrect and has taken up head coach Jordi Fernandez‘s problem of scoring extra effectively this season, in line with Lewis of The New York Publish (subscription required). “I positively hold receipts,” Thomas instructed Sports activities+ this week. “All people makes use of completely different stuff as motivation. So, you understand, I’ve a variety of stuff I’m going to make use of for motivation this yr. And we’ll see how that goes for us. However I’m positively prepared and able to show individuals incorrect this yr.”
- In an unique interview with Lewis, swingman Ben Simmons says he’s centered on offering management to a younger Nets group and isn’t fascinated about what the longer term may maintain. Simmons, a three-time All-Star who has missed a lot of the previous three seasons with again points, is on an expiring $40.3MM contract. “We’ve got a youthful group that I wish to assist these guys get higher. I wish to lead by instance. I wish to compete,” Simmons instructed The Publish. “Jordi [Fernandez] is coming in first yr. It’s an enormous yr for him. I wish to be a pacesetter on this group. So f– what occurs subsequent yr, and what contract I get, if I get a contract. I wish to do my job whereas I’m right here and be skilled and assist these guys in any means I can. So who is aware of? I wish to play so long as my physique will enable me. So if it’s one yr, 5 years, six years, I don’t know what it’s. However I simply wish to hold going till I can’t anymore.”
- Simmons additionally just lately spoke to Regulation Murray of The Athletic about what roles he may play for the Nets this season, assuming he stays wholesome, which is clearly a serious query mark. The 28-year-old sounds extra open to enjoying frontcourt minutes than he has up to now. “I’m an older man now,” Simmons stated. “I’m fairly sturdy down there. … I’m at all times up for that problem. I believe it’s simply a type of issues the place, in case your title is named to do a job, then you definately step up and attempt to do it to the very best of your potential. In order that’s what I’m going to do each evening and attempt to contribute and do the very best I can.”
- Rookie second-rounder Tyler Kolek is absorbing knowledge from the veterans on the Knicks‘ roster as he adjusts to the NBA, writes Steve Popper of Newsday (subscriber hyperlink). “All of the vets, simply leaning on them, they’ve been there earlier than,” Kolek stated. “They understand how this works. I’m form of coming into this blind. Three years in school, every year I knew what to anticipate. Coming into this league I don’t actually know what to anticipate, so simply actually leaning on these guys, leaning on my teammates to information me by means of.”
- Stefan Bondy of The New York Publish explains how the Knicks‘ improved relationship with Klutch Sports activities performed a big position within the group’s blockbuster commerce for Karl-Anthony Cities.
