Brooklyn Nets Guard Cam Thomas Takes $6M One-Year Deal, Opening Door to Free Agency

Cam Thomas reached a deal with the Brooklyn Nets, taking a $6 million qualifying offer for 2025-26 after negotiations hit a wall between the emerging star and his team.

The Nets tried to keep him with two options: $30 million over two years with team control, or one year at $9.5 million plus $1.5 million in incentives. Thomas wouldn't budge on his no-trade protection in either scenario.

His standout season showed his potential - 24 points per game, along with nearly 4 assists and over 3 rebounds. But injuries limited him to just 25 games.

Thomas's scoring ability puts him in elite company. Only Vince Carter, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant have scored 40+ points more times in a Nets jersey. Teams double-teamed him on almost 20% of his plays, proving how dangerous they considered his offense.

The young guard was looking for money close to Tyler Herro and Jalen Green - over $30 million per year. But teams across the league valued him between $20-30 million on shorter contracts.

At just 22, Thomas made his mark by dropping 40+ points in three consecutive games. His scoring jumped from 9.5 points early on to almost 23 over the last two seasons.

Since 2017, only four other first-round picks have gone with qualifying offers. Fellow rising stars Josh Giddey and Jonathan Kuminga haven't made their decisions yet.

By choosing the one-year deal, Thomas keeps his trade protection and positions himself for a bigger contract in 2026. The Nets, meanwhile, stay on track as the team with the most cap space through 2027.

"Is this building that is only going to be used for three more years worth the investment that we are making?" said council member Brandi Gabbard to ESPN.com.