The Brooklyn Nets could part ways with Cam Thomas after the guard and the team failed to come to terms on a contract extension.

Thomas, the fourth-year guard out of LSU, is in the midst of a breakout season as the undisputed star of the Nets, as Brooklyn continues to navigate a path between fully rebuilding or attempting to push for a low playoff seed. As it stands, the Nets are in an unenviable position of being too good to get a top draft pick but not bad enough to make noise in the playoffs.

As such, Thomas, who is averaging 24.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game this season, leads a Nets squad laden with potential trade candidates. And while Brooklyn could part with a handful of players, it appears as if Thomas might be the most attractive of the bunch.

“Fourth-year gunner Cam Thomas (24.6 points per game) failed to come to terms on an extension and is widely considered to be available, but Brooklym’s list of possibilities hardly ends there,” The Athletic’s Sam Amick wrote. “They have proven vets like Dennis Schroder and Bojan Bogdanovic, who has yet to play this season because of left foot surgery but is progressing toward a return.”

Center Nic Claxton and forward Cam Johnson also are on the table, according to Amick. Aside from his scoring prowess, Thomas is in the final year of his rookie contract, with the guard slated to make just over $4 million this season, the final year of his four-year, $10.4 million contract.

Because he and the Nets did not agree to a contract extension, the 23-year-old will be a restricted free agent next season. Essentially, whichever team decides to trade for Thomas will have the right to match whatever contract is presented to the star guard.

Cam Thomas #24 of the Brooklyn Nets handles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on November 17, 2024 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York

Cam Thomas could be the latest name on the move after contract extension talks with the Brooklyn Nets broke down ( 

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Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Though Thomas is a prolific scorer, many believe his shot-making prowess is empty as the Nets have not had much success with him being the lead scorer. Thomas addressed those criticisms, believing he is a more complete player than what casual fans are led to believe.

“Honestly, the people who say that [stuff], I feel like they don’t really watch the games,” he said after Brooklyn’s 120-112 win over the Chicago Bulls, per ClutchPoints. “Because I do a lot more other stuff than just score. Sometimes it doesn’t show up on the stat sheet, but there’s a lot of things that go into a basketball game that you have to actually watch [to see], instead of just stat-watching.

“[If] you look at the stats at the end of the game instead of watching the full game, watching the flow and all that stuff, [you don’t see it]. So I never really cared what people say, honestly, because I know what I bring to the table as a player. I just try to have tunnel vision and just try to play to the best of my ability every day.”

Jordi Fernandez, the Nets’ head coach, defended Thomas’ production and the criticism the young guard has received. After the game, Fernandez gave his thoughts on Thomas’ detractors, stating: “The reality is they don’t know [him].

“Talking nowadays, obviously it’s something that you can do for free. If you pay attention to it, then maybe it’s your problem for listening to them. I think CT’s been amazing. He’s worked every single day. That’s what people cannot see, but then you can see it on the court. How hard he’s playing defense. He’s picking up, he’s turning guys, he’s boxing out.

“And then obviously his execution and his being efficient [offensively]. His potential assists. The scoring, it is what it is, because he’s very good at it. So I’m not teaching any of that. Just obviously putting in [plays] and knowing what he has to executive. What CT has been doing for this group, it’s the identity that we want to have as a unit: work really hard and get better to help the team.”