{"id":384332,"date":"2026-01-02T22:32:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T22:32:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/384332\/"},"modified":"2026-01-02T22:32:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T22:32:09","slug":"kevin-durant-implores-nba-team-to-build-around-cam-thomas-amid-nets-uncertainty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/384332\/","title":{"rendered":"Kevin Durant implores NBA team to \u2018build around\u2019 Cam Thomas amid Nets uncertainty"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kevin Durant implores NBA team to \u2018build around\u2019 Cam Thomas amid Nets uncertainty<\/a> appeared first on ClutchPoints<\/a>. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Following a failed contract negotiation with the Brooklyn Nets<\/a> last summer, Cam Thomas<\/a> is searching for a long-term NBA home. The 24-year-old is headed for unrestricted free agency and faces an uncertain future with the Brooklyn Nets.<\/p>\n

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Houston Rockets<\/a> star Kevin Durant<\/a> implored an NBA team<\/a> to build around his polarizing former teammate.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like Cam has a bright, bright future. It just takes somebody to believe in his talent and his skill,\u201d Durant said on Thursday after Houston\u2019s 120-96 win over Brooklyn. \u201cScorers and guys that score the basketball at a high rate, they get taken for granted in this league a bit. We\u2019re so used to loving defenders and playmakers and guys that can be connectors. Sometimes, scorers get taken for granted. So hopefully somebody takes a chance on Cam and gives him what he deserves and puts the ball in his hands and builds around him and lets him grow into a player. What is he, 24? He\u2019s still got a lot of time in the league to keep getting better. Hopefully, a team puts some trust in him.\u201d<\/p>\n

While a talented scorer, Thomas has had little market in trades or free agency<\/a> thus far in his career. That\u2019s primarily due to his limitations as a defender, passer and rebounder.<\/p>\n

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Kevin Durant shares opinion on Cam Thomas\u2019 NBA future\"Vincent<\/p>\n

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

However, Durant feels the Nets\u2019 instability has held Thomas back since the young guard cracked the rotation during his third season (2023-24).<\/p>\n

\u201cPlaying with more seasoned, veteran players [is the next step for Cam]. I think the turnover on the roster since I left, Kyrie left, has been, you know, turnover,\u201d Durant continued. \u201cEvery year, you might have four, five new two-ways, rookies, free agency guys. There\u2019s no continuity. I think having Jordi here for the second year now is helping. I think that continuity is key. You got a different coach, a different set of players, and you drafted five new players this year. You throw them into the rotation, it\u2019s gonna take some time for everybody to figure themselves out, especially a young group. So I feel like he\u2019s had a new, young group every year. It\u2019s tough for anybody.<\/p>\n

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\u201cCoaches, the GMs, the assistant coaches, they\u2019re all trying to figure out the best way to play, and I think Cam is just stuck in that right now. He\u2019s the biggest name, he scores the most, so he\u2019s gonna take all the blame for everything. But once you take a deep dive into what this team is trying to do and this franchise is trying to do, you see some great talent along the roster and guys that are just trying to figure it out. So Cam\u2019s one of those guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thomas has averaged 22.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.0 turnovers per game on .441\/.359\/.865 shooting splits over 102 appearances the last three seasons. While he\u2019s shown elite scoring flashes, he consistently ranks towards the bottom of the league\u2019s guards in potential assists and defensive rating.<\/p>\n

Before the season, ClutchPoints asked Thomas whether he would adjust his playstyle<\/a> to secure a long-term contract.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. Just keep doing what I\u2019m doing,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n

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Thomas has stayed true to his word. He has the second-lowest assist-to-usage ratio (0.53) among 54 guards posting above a 22 percent usage rate this season, per CleaningTheGlass. His +8.7 defensive rating swing is the worst on the Nets and the seventh-worst among 84 guards who have played over 250 minutes.<\/p>\n

Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez has consistently called for improvement from Thomas in those areas. He continued to do so after the fifth-year guard scored 21 points with one assist and four turnovers during Thursday\u2019s loss to Houston.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood scoring punch with the minutes that he\u2019s playing\u2026 Obviously, his superpower is his scoring. But once again, I need better defense, I need better playmaking,\u201d Fernandez said of Thomas\u2019 performance.<\/p>\n

The loss marked Thomas\u2019 third game back following a two-month absence due to a hamstring injury. He injured the same hamstring three times last season, limiting him to just 25 games.<\/p>\n

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Given Thomas\u2019 uncertain future and the Nets\u2019 improvement following his latest injury, it was unclear whether they would re-insert him into the rotation once healthy. They\u2019ve done so in a bench role over the last three games.<\/p>\n

Thomas came off the bench on Thursday despite three starters \u2014 Michael Porter Jr., Egor Demin and Terance Mann \u2014 missing the game. When asked if he was frustrated with his role during the shorthanded, blowout loss, Thomas had little to say.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo comment,\u201d he replied with a smile.<\/p>\n

Given the Nets\u2019 strategy of drafting sizable, pass-first players in this year\u2019s class, it\u2019s not surprising they declined to extend a significant, long-term contract to Thomas. Brooklyn\u2019s highest offer to the guard was a two-year, $30 million deal featuring a team option.<\/p>\n

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Following the draft, Sean Marks was transparent about the attributes Brooklyn\u2019s front office is looking for in players.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s 0.5 [second] basketball, you catch and make a decision, you don\u2019t hold the ball\u2026 It\u2019s where the NBA is going: guys who can play multiple positions, guard multiple positions, and make it hard on the defense,\u201d the GM said.<\/p>\n

The rest of the NBA has embraced a similar thought process, limiting the market for score-first guards like Thomas last summer. The Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz had to attach assets to move Anfernee Simons and Colin Sexton, respectively. Meanwhile, the Miami Heat had to give up only Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson to acquire Norman Powell.<\/p>\n

With Thomas destined for free agency and the Nets attempting to find minutes for five rookies, a midseason trade could be on the horizon. Given Thomas\u2019 no-trade clause, Brooklyn would have to work with his representation to find a new home.<\/p>\n

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Whether another team shares Durant\u2019s enthusiasm for Thomas\u2019 skill set and offers the young guard a featured role remains to be seen.<\/p>\n

Related: Nets\u2019 Michael Porter, Nic Claxton headline lengthy injury report for tank matchup vs. Wizards<\/a><\/p>\n

Related: Nets\u2019 Michael Porter Jr. missing Wizards tilt with illness<\/a><\/p>\n