NBA Trade Rumors: Insider predicts Cam Thomas to leave Nets with payday unlikely

Cam Thomas has reached the end of his four-year rookie contract with the Brooklyn Nets, but there are no reports of an extension yet for the former LSU star. Amidst the uncertainty of Thomas' contract situation, one NBA insider claims that the 23-year-old might not be playing many more years in Brooklyn.

Appearing on Tuesday's episode of "The Brooklyn Boys" podcast, Tim MacMahon dished some intel on the Nets' handling of Thomas.

"I would say Cam Thomas wants to be paid, and the Nets aren't too eager to pay him," MacMahon told host Connor Long.

Adding to this contract stalemate mentioned by MacMahon is the Nets' decision last month to extend a $5.99 million qualifying offer to Thomas, effectively making him a restricted free agent. By having the power to match offer sheets put forward by any team, the Nets remain in control of Thomas' landing spot for the 2025-26 season, whether that's the Big Apple or elsewhere.

MacMahon went on to offer his prediction for the ongoing Thomas situation.

"My guess is that he is back in Brooklyn when next season starts, probably not on a long-term deal," MacMahon said.

The veteran ESPN writer added that the unpredictability at this stage in Thomas' career has to do with the perception of his overall ability.

"He's a pretty polarizing figure," MacMahon said of Thomas. "He obviously can score ... can he contribute to winning, I think, is a big question around the league."

In the 2024-25 campaign, Cam Thomas averaged a career-best 24.0 points and 3.8 assists per game. However, he managed to play just 25 games as hamstring and back issues hounded him throughout the season.

With the Nets hesitant to sign Thomas to a lucrative extension, possibly for a number of reasons, the young guard could subsequently make moves to set up a departure from Brooklyn in the not-too-distant future.

Reporter predicts Cam Thomas re-signing with Nets for three more years

While MacMahon isn't confident that Cam Thomas will stick around in Brooklyn for the long term, another reporter is predicting that Thomas will remain in a Nets jersey for the foreseeable future.

According to writer Eric Pincus, it's possible that Thomas will sign a contract that extends all the way till the 2027-28 season.

"Prediction: As a low-confidence guess, the Nets and Thomas compromise on a three-year deal starting in the $24 million range," Pincus wrote in a July 7 article.

According to Pincus, Cam Thomas initially sought $30 million in his negotiations for a contract extension. As such, to make this three-year deal happen, the Nets guard might have to agree to a salary lower than his asking price.