On November 27th, 2024, it was announced by ESPN Insider Shams Charania that rising star Cam Thomas would be missing 3–4 weeks due to a hamstring strain. Thomas, who was averaging a career-high 24.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists on nearly 60% TS, was making impressive strides in his game, slowly but surely becoming a more all-around player. Unfortunately, while Thomas would make a return roughly a month later on December 29th against the Orlando Magic, a few games later, he would re-aggravate his hamstring once again in a victory against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Recently, it was announced by the organization that Thomas would make his return post-All-Star break, approximately three more weeks, missing an additional six more games during that time span. Assuming Thomas doesn’t miss any more time after his return, he would finish the season playing 47 games. Missing nearly half the season in a year that is critical for Thomas’ development, given how little playtime he received during the first two years of his career, is disappointing, especially since Thomas will be negotiating a contract extension as a restricted free agent in 2025.
This can very well be a silver lining for the team, as they can use this to get Thomas on a team-friendly contract this offseason, similar to how Warriors superstar Stephen Curry signed a 4-year, $44M contract extension due to his constant ankle injuries during his early career. If the Nets play their cards right, they can easily get Thomas on a contract ranging from the $20M–$30M per year range, depending on the number of years on the contract. However, it should be noted that the Nets cannot get too stingy during contract negotiations, as if Thomas feels disrespected and gets offered something far below his perceived value, he could easily take his qualifying offer and wait one more year before becoming a 2026 unrestricted free agent. He will be able to test the market when teams have more available cap space and possibly walk in free agency for nothing.
Thomas being hurt does aid in the Nets' tank, allowing the team to get a higher pick and possibly draft a prospect like Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, or Ace Bailey. However, being able to retain Thomas in the offseason is going to be critical in the Nets' rebuild. Having a young player in his prime and being able to either develop him into a co-star for one of the players mentioned above or use him as a trade piece down the line is vital to have going forward. While it is unfortunate Thomas is injured, hopefully, he can demonstrate his skills post-All-Star break to prove to the Nets he’s an important part of the franchise going forward.
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