When Cam Thomas signed his qualifying offer with the Nets in early September, it guaranteed that he would become an unrestricted free agent after this season. Rockets star Kevin Durant believes whichever team signs him this offseason will get a superior talent, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype tweets.
“I feel like Cam has a bright future. It just takes somebody to believe in his talent and his skill,” Durant said. “Scorers and guys that score the basketball at a high rate, they get taken for granted in this league a bit. We’re so used to loving defenders, play-makers, and guys that can be connectors. Sometimes scorers get taken for granted.
“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’s still got a lot of time in this league to keep getting better. Hopefully a team puts some trust in him.”
Thomas, who was rested against the Wizards on Friday, is averaging 21.4 points per game in 11 appearances this season.
Here’s more on the Nets:
- Brooklyn fell to 0-6 this season when Michael Porter Jr. doesn’t play. The Nets’ leading scorer sat out the second game of a back-to-back due to an illness as Washington blew them out by 20 points. They shot just 39.5% overall and 6-of-29 from three-point range while dropping their third straight. Dan Devine of Yahoo Sports takes a closer look at whether the Nets should deal Porter for assets prior to the trade deadline.
- Nic Claxton also didn’t suit up on Friday due to personal reasons and that led to expanded minutes for Day’Ron Sharpe. The latter was one of the few bright spots on Friday as he contributed 14 points, nine rebounds, two steals and two blocks in his first start this season. “One thing we know is Day’Ron is going to play extremely hard,” coach Jordi Fernandez said, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “And going from the minutes he’s played to pretty much 30 minutes, your body has to adjust to that. So it’s a great opportunity for him… but also being careful with that.” The Nets hold a $6.25MM club option on Sharpe’s contract for next season.
- Fernandez wasn’t happy with rookie Nolan Traore‘s shot selection on Thursday against the Rockets. Traore took five three-pointers and made one. He finished 1-for-8 from the field. “I need him to use his superpowers and touch the paint. And it felt like he got caught shooting the unders. And a lot of times it didn’t go … because that’s what they want you to do,” Fernández said. “And if you keep shooting and missing, then sometimes, if you keep doing the same thing and seeing the same results, that’s the definition of insanity. And I know how good he is.” Traore didn’t attempt a three on Friday while scoring 12 points in 26 minutes.
MPJ and Claxton DNP = trade is coming
And/or tanking.
Wizards winning has double value. Or more due to points differential in case of a tie.
Wizards are at 9 wins, Nets at 10. Otherwise would have been 8 and 11, a big difference in the lottery race…
Indiana and Sacramento only have 8 wins, Pacers only six. So it currently is Nets vs. Wizards for 4th worse spot…
But tanking is meaningless now its a lottery draft? Did you forget?
Neither will be traded. They’re both part of the team’s future plans.
MPJ is having a great year. He’s got two yrs left on his contract. You have to take that into account. I certainly wouldn’t give him another big deal. Fact is though he can help a playoff team. So I believe the Nets will get offers.
As far as Warriors go. I would rather Claxton than MPJ. Claxton makes them stronger longer. Cause he plays both ways. Plus he makes life easier for Dra and Jimmy. And all their bigs. He would be my choice from Nets.
Look, I’m gunna drop this link here and walk away – this is why I don’t rock with MPJ lol – once again Al, you nailed it – Claxton over MPJ is probably the better move. MPJ is just a variation of Kuminga, who Kerr hates playing.
link to instagram.com
He isn’t Kuminga. He might be a liability on D. He is a 25 pt scorer. That’s a guaranteed 20 a gm. Kuminga doesn’t give you that. He can play with Jimmy, Dra, Curry. And can play team D. I disagree lol. He is an upgrade over Kuminga. Not saying he gets you to west finals. I definitely go with Claxton. Only you know Kerr probably goes with MPJ.
It’s crazy how if the Warriors moved on from Kerr, then acquired Claxton, they probably would not lose again.
Look at last night:
TJD +10 in 17 min
Post +14 in 23 min
Moody +16 in 25 min
Santos +4 in 8 min
GP2 0 in 21 min
Podz +6 in 24 min
Gp2 and Podz = 45 mins. + 6
Moody and Post = 48 min +30
Why do Gary and Podz play so much? When they aren’t cooking? And others are? Kerr is trying to play the worst possible lineups, because he -wants- to lose. He -wants- the Warriors run to be over. But Curry is still 5+ years away from this moment. Kerr gotta go.
Imo Kerr wants ball handlers. Guards tgat can make plays. Telling you dude. All this to me goes to his success on his last chip. Probably thinks it’s only way he has a real shot. Hope for a good trade is all you can do Davey.
Yeah, seeing an on-fire Poole, MVP/iconic-level Curry and also post-injury Klay out there cooking with Draymond and Otto Porter, really broke Kerr to where he started going “wait, that’s 5 undersized guys, but can I play 5 undersized GUARDS at once?” and him finding out the obvious answer to that stupid question (you can, but it will play zero defense) on a daily-game basis, every year since, but especially, most-obviously, right now.
That said, GSW is currently 19-17 in the tougher conference and does not leave CA or Phoenix for pretty much the entirety of Jan, Feb and Apr. Just a 4 game and a 2 game road trip in that time. It would be NICE to play a guy making Kuminga’s money for 25 MPG instead of GP2, I agree. Kuminga is getting traded, and its apparently for a deal that was made months ago.
Yeah I’ m curious to see what they got. Considering they don’t want to play JK. Claxton would be major to me. He adds a lot bith ways.
Claxton helps Post, Horford, TJD play bigger lol. Actually a big team lol.
TJD is actually a power forward but GSW have so few bigs he has to play C. Would like to see him only at the 4. Would need Clax or Zubac or literally any high-paid big there with TJD to really unlock him as a slasher to the bucket or just big body to space the floor on defense.
It’s kinda crazy how down people are about GSW. They are 19-17 with no Kuminga at $22.5M playing at all. Buddy at $9.2M also has no place here. Draymond at $25.9M also proved last night this team is better off without him…that’s $57.6M they could bring in via trade, that’s a LOT of help. None of those 3 are long term pieces here, and they are underperforming…imagine if they got $57M back actually playing and playing well or better than those 3? Also they barely leave CA in Jan, Feb and April.
If MDJ can specifically trade Kuminga, Green and Hield and get useable, non-injured assets back…GSW might end up swinging back to the top of the heap again. They aren’t too far off, honestly…
Nick Richards to the Warriors, cheapest option, best cost-effective move. Rim-protector, rim-runner, rebounder.
5 million expiring contract.
A mid 2nd round pick would get him.
Preserve assets for other trades.