12:02 pm: Thomas has officially signed his qualifying offer, the Nets announced (via Twitter).
6:59 am: Nets restricted free agent Cam Thomas has decided to sign his one-year qualifying offer worth just under $6MM to return to the team, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
Reporting since late July indicated that Brooklyn was willing to give Thomas a multiyear deal but that the team wasn’t going beyond two years at roughly $14-15MM per season, with a second-year team option. According to Charania, the Nets also proposed a one-year, $9.5MM contract that could have been worth up to $11MM in incentives, but it would’ve required Thomas to waive his right to veto a trade.
Rather than accepting either of those team-friendly proposals, Thomas will take his chances on a more modest one-year contract that will give him a de facto no-trade clause for the 2025/26 season and will put him on track to become an unrestricted free agent next July.
As Charania points out, while the Nets were the only team to enter this offseason with significant cap room, there could be 10 or more cap-space teams in 2026, creating more options on the open market for a free agent like Thomas.
The 27th overall pick in the 2021 draft out of LSU, Thomas has increased his scoring average in each of his four NBA seasons and put up career highs of 24.0 points and 3.8 assists per game in 2024/25.
However, he was limited to just 25 games last season due to hamstring issues and has been up and down from an efficiency standpoint, with career averages of 43.9% from the floor and 34.9% on three-pointers. He’s also not considered an above-average defender.
As talented as Thomas is as a scorer, his shortcomings in other areas limited his appeal in restricted free agency, and the Nets’ favorable cap position allowed the team to play hardball in negotiations. Having agreed to re-sign other free agents like Day’Ron Sharpe and Ziaire Williams to contracts that aren’t guaranteed beyond 2025/26, Brooklyn was clearly prioritizing its ability to maintain cap flexibility next offseason and wasn’t interested in making a longer-term commitment to the 23-year-old at this time.
If Thomas plays out the 2025/26 season with the Nets, the team will maintain his Bird rights entering next summer. However, if he approves a trade to another club before February’s deadline, his Bird rights wouldn’t go with him — that’s presumably the reason why he turned down Brooklyn’s one-year, $9.5MM offer, which would’ve required him to essentially “pre-approve” a trade. Even if the Nets decide not to re-sign Thomas next July, his Bird rights could be useful in sign-and-trade scenarios.
If Thomas OKs a trade during the season, his new team would have his Non-Bird rights and wouldn’t be able to offer him a starting salary higher than about $7.2MM (120% of his previous salary) next offseason without using cap room or another cap exception.
The Nets will actually open up some cap room as a result of Thomas signing his qualifying offer, since the team had been carrying a cap hold of approximately $12MM for him — that cap hit will be cut in half once he officially puts pen to paper, creating an extra $6MM in spending flexibility for Brooklyn.
Thomas was one of four notable restricted free agents around the NBA whose situation remained unresolved as of Labor Day. We can probably expect resolution for Josh Giddey (Bulls), Jonathan Kuminga (Warriors), and Quentin Grimes (Sixers) at some point this month, since they face an October 1 deadline for accepting their own qualifying offers.
Note to the Warriors….disaster. Not getting nothing. And I don’t believe the hindering his value elsewhere talk as much as I believe the we’ve offered this and that BS leaks in the media.
Disaster is right. Now what?
I believe I have a good feeling for where this stands. I’ve been following the blow-by-blow since the end of the season via the Kawakami, Slater, and Marcus Thompson podcasts (“plus one”) and articles. They’ve had ongoing dialog with Dunleavey, and Slater seems to have an open channel to Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner. They all joke that they talk about the Kuminga situation every single week. Here goes:
Warriors had given Kuminga and Turner the opportunity to find a sign and trade at the beginning of the summer, and that needed to play out to satisfy Kuminga, even though Lacob and Dunleavey weren’t going for it under any conditions. But Dunleavey and Turner were still negotiating actively in late June.
How did we get to the QO being a real, if not likely, outcome? In late June, the situation took a downward turn when Kerr, on his own initiative, did a podcast with Kawakami where he effectively said that he didn’t see a future for Kuminga on the Warriors. Dunleavey immediately called a press conference to try to clean it up, as did Draymond. But the hugely negative exposure across national media was taken very badly by Kuminga personally, prompting his own video and interview with Slater. Then he dropped the QO bomb.
Slater reported, based on discussions with Turner and GSW front office, that negotiations restarted in early August with Kuminga’s camp taking a revised position:
– Kuminga will accept less than his market value if Theother term are met
– a contract must show GSW is committed to giving Kuminga a chance to succeed, as opposed to.using him as a “pawn” (that’s the word they use)
– 2nd year guaranteed with player control on trades
– player, not team, option, after 2 years at a significant step up
In other words, “give me a contract that shows you will give me a fair shot for 2 years AND the right to veto trades to teams I don’t want to play for… otherwise, I sign the QO.”
OK, so the “qualifying offer” it is if what you’re writing here is correct.
I think he’s not smart to do that just to be a UFA next year (7.9) instead of being a UFA next year (21.5) with the possibility of being a UFA the year after (another 21.5)
Gonna be crazy to see how this works out.
Here’s where I differ from you: no way Lakob lets Kuminga sign the QO. Same with Giddey in Chicago.
Everyone in the league (including owners) knows the market this year is artificially depressed. Laugh if you want, but in competitive bidding, Kuminga won’t have a problem making $28/yr. That’s less than the Warriors offered him last year. $24M/yr is buying low.
the warriors did offer Kumionga. the BS is Kuminga agent claiming he didn’t ask for a max deal last year when he did.
@arc89. They never asked for the max. Why would they lie. Nobody from the Warriors has ever said that and no local Warriors reporter has ever said that.
Actually last year, it was reported from his agent he was looking for the max (per Jake Fischer) … probably to start talks but it’s not like people didn’t make it up LOL
yes it was reported his agents LAST year turned down a $100 million contract asking for a max deal. This is last off season before the money was used to get Butler. It was all over 95.7 the game.
Do you know that NBA teams have scouts? They have watched Kuminga for 5 years now. I don’t think they rely on the media for player evaluation. They see how every player.
Disaster? He wasn’t exactly a huge contributor.
Disaster because he’s the only player left on the team with any trade value. No Kuminga means we can’t improve the roster.
Some folks have short memories. Who was W’s beat player by far in second round. Like 22 point in 30 mins per game. 55% from field. Only player that could defend AntMan. 22 years old. We were in all those games even though Kerr failed to play him enough to win.
Short term memory? You are pointing to two games. Did you forget the part of the season when the Warriors were a lottery team. They were nowhere close to making the playoffs. The offense was completely stagnant. Curry was double teamed every game. That changed when they traded for Butler.
So far, the only players that have been offered for Kuminga have been Devin Carter and shut-the-front-door-Ethel Dario Saric. Hardly a massive haul.
Also was JK’s defense really that good? I must’ve missed it because Edwards averaged 26.2/5.6/7.6 on .500/.442/.692 vs GSW last year during the playoffs.
**As Charania points out, while the Nets were the only team to enter this offseason with significant cap room, there could be 10 or more cap-space teams in 2026, creating more options on the open market for a free agent like Thomas.**
This could be the huge reason Jonathan Kuminga is thinking about the qualifying offer? Thinking ahead to 2026 cap room is a gamble, but one he’s willing to take I guess.
If Kuminga goes this way, may it be a lesson learned for all parties. Unfortunate but that’s how the cookie crumbles sometimes.
Will Josh Giddey do the same thing? I’d say no.., he’s a hell of a player and the bulls probably figure something out with him on a 4 year deal at 25 – 30 per.
Kuminga has more potential than Giddey. Unfortunately the Warriors haven’t helped him much to reach it. Like I said long ago. Warriors should be focused on what they can get for Kuminga now. There is no future in GS.
No team has offered anything for kuminga but cast offs. You are not trading Kuminga unless you get something back worth some value. Not even a 1st rounder was offered for him.
@arc89, you are always repeating rumors that you hear like they are all of the truth anybody could know. It makes it hard to read past the first words.
We have zero info on what the Warriors asked for and we only know about rumors that were reported here. Also you know that almost no teams can acquire free agents this year.
When the trading period comes Iin a few months teams will be able to do lots of deals they can’t now.
Stop living in the past arc. He is signing his QO and he is gone. Be thankful you will get Horford, Melton, Payton, and pkg for Kuminga. This is reality. There is no reason to keep Kuminga on team at QO. Best to move his as soon as he signs. There will be takers, like I have said before. Young talent n pick.
Oh gawd…I keep hearing you say
Come on Al. You keep saying that. But rings hollow. What are the Warriors supposed to do to bring out Kuminga’s potential? They’ve changed the lineup multiple times. Hell, Draymond willing gave up his starting role for him. They let him know what he needs to do.
Others players have found success playing under Kerr. What are they supposed to do?
What other young players found success playing under Kerr? He’s the all-time worst, numbers don’t lie. Podz is the only player in 11 years that has succeeded at all in his his first few years. Poole comes close.but Kerr let Draymond destroy him.
Moody was breaking out before his injury. Ty Jerome has done quite well. Poole was a bit of a mess. You can’t blame that on Draymond.
“What other young players found success playing under Kerr?”
Stephen Curry
Klay Thompson
Draymond Green
Kevon Looney
Shaun Livingston
Festus Ezeli
Quinn Cook
Andrew Wiggins
Jordan Poole
Moses Moody
Brandin Podziemski
Trayce Jackson-Davis
Quentin Post
Gui Santos
Just to name a few
———————————-
“The all-time worst, numbers don’t lie.”
The all-time worst, a coach who won 4 championships in 11 seasons, has a 65 Season Win% and 68 Playoff Win%
Is this a joke. That’s one of the most incorrect posts we’ve seen in years. Probably best for you to stick to your own team if your that ignorant about the Warriors
Warriors failure with their draft picks has been written about to death over the years. Brandin Podziemski is the only draft pick in last 10 years to get significant minutes in his first 2 years. The media can’t stop talking about it. Only you don’t know that
Your list shows your ignorance.
Draymond, Steph, Klay, and Ezeli were drafted years before Kerr came on. Livingston and Wiggins had played more than 5 seasons before they joined. Cook wasn’t drafted by Warriora and was released. Poole was dumped. Moody has been a disappointment and asked to be traded two years ago. Wiseman was abandoned. TJD doesn’t play.
It’s well documented. Warriors have worst record developing their draft picks since Kerr started. Draft picks play the fewest games while they’re with the Warriors and they last in the NBA the shortest time.
You got it, Gary. The unsigned 4 players have all been talking to the teams that have extra cap space next season, and that’s informing their current actions.
You can read about it elsewhere, but because Kuminga and his agent were given permission to talk to approach all team about a sign and trade, they learned from all those 10 (and other) teams about who is interested and for how much. That’s why they’re not signing for $22M.
One team they have spoken with is the Lakers, who will have $84M in cap space, and no LeBron or Hachimura.
What is y’all love affair with Jonathan kaminga? I’ve asked this a few times. Please name me two elite things that Jonathan kaminga can do? He’s very athletic. He doesn’t play defense. He has a shaky jump shot. He has no handle to get his own shot and he doesn’t play well without the ball. So why would you give up 25 million a year for that? Cam Thomas is a great scorer can score with the ball in his hands, but he is not a starter. So your sixth man is not going to make more than 15 to $20 million. So again You guys are not evaluating these players from x and o standpoints and just saying this player deserves x amount of money. Well I’m sorry the Ben Simmons and all the other people they messed that up by not playing and not growing their game. So now with the new cap the owners have all the power. A restricted free agents are not going to get paid because of the quickly contracts and people like that. Those contracts have gone South
> Josh Giddey.., he’s a hell of a player and the bulls
> probably figure something out with him on a 4 year
> deal at 25 – 30 per.
Sounds about right to me (I’d be a smidge lower), but the Bulls have reportedly offered only 4 x $20M
Unlike Kuminga, who is behind Butler and Draymond, Giddey has been anointed the Bulls point guard, present and future. Bulls are in rebuild mode, so it feels like a no-brainer. It’s a bad time to be a free-agent.
How many teams are going to be willing to accommodate what he wants?
This guy was born in the wrong era. 20 or 30 years ago, he would’ve got money. Teams are smart now and know that guards who shoot with poor efficiency and can’t defend are not valuable. At least not to the extent that this guy wants to be paid.
He doesn’t defend. Doesn’t pass. Doesn’t play team ball. Doesn’t run an offense. If his shot is not dropping. He is useless. Hasn’t learned the game yet.
Is this a joke? Look at Immanuel Quickley’s contract, Patrick Williams. Paul George, Myles Turner, Duncan Robinson etc etc.
He was talking about player archetype and skillset more so than teams being perfect. Before all the analytics, athletic guys like Kuminga were viewed favorably. But once it became clear just how damaging those specific deficiencies are with respect to winning basketball, they fell out of favor.
Now, the hope is he eventually puts it all together and becomes a star, with the risk being he doesn’t come close to that and probably isn’t a winning player relative to his role. Back then, teams didn’t worry about that as much.
OhThatYoGirl:
Immanuel Quickley defends and can hit the 3. How does he compare? Duncan Robinson hits the 3. Cam Thomas has a skill set that is no longer valued. Paul George was a more dynamic player than Thomas. He just got old. These players really don’t compare to Thomas.
Cam is at best a rotation player. Unfortunately he thinks his ability to score . Should make him a star and get paid like one. He is all about himself. And doesn’t get or care what a team player means.
Worst kind of player to have around if you are trying to build a team from the ground up. He needs a mentor in worst way. His scoring alone can keep him in NBA a long time. Has to learn to commit to doing all the other things. Nets will have to move him.
You are right about Cam. He would be an elite 6 man. Actually he would play perfectly in clarkston’s role for the Knicks. So 15-20 million is his ceiling.
I don’t agree with you with Jonathan kaminga to me. He does no elite skills and I don’t think he will grow into anything much more than what he is now because he’s a small Ford and a power Ford’s body and he can’t handle the ball well enough to play the three. If you wants to approve his game he needs to learn how to play with off the ball and get easier buckets.
He’s a Jerami Grant at best.
One down, three to go!
He never asked for a max deal. Only the people on this site said that he did. Rumors.
This summer they offered him only 1 year guaranteed. Not a real offer.
Good. Let these teams lose these players for nothing since they had no plan.
What is this team? I mean I get not wanting to over pay Thomas, but what on earth are the nets trying to do?
So, one of the Fab 4 goes down.
If any of Giddey, Kuminga or Grimes take a QO too, I’d like my team to sign them next season, to at least a 3-year deal. Regardless of what happens in 25-26, if they are benched or whatever. Those players have shown enough to have belief in them when summer 2026 comes.
Are Brooklyn under the salary floor now or over it?
I believe they are still under but that’s not including officially signing Ziaire Williams, so they should go over it by the time they have a 15-man roster set up before the season opener.