With the recently acquired Michael Porter his only legitimate offensively inclined teammate and five rookies expected to earn playing time this upcoming campaign, Thomas might well see that 18.2% double team rate increase.
That raises an interesting question: Should the Nets want to retain Thomas?
He is a bucket-getter, something that the Nets need in the worst way. Thomas has that rare ability to create a reasonable shot out of nothing, reminiscent of prime Jamal Crawford. Yes, he misses them at an almost unreasonable rate, but there is a legitimate argument — one that the player himself stands on — that the defensive pressure he faces as the Nets’ only true generator of offense negatively impacts his numbers.
Before he went down with an injury in late November (he only played eight further games last season), the Nets were proving a pleasant surprise, sitting sixth in the East with a 9-11 record. (That a sub .500 record would qualify for the playoffs might say something about the Eastern conference.) The team then shipped out other veterans, and the Nets cratered in Thomas’ absence. He clearly has worth to the team.
That said, do the Nets want the competence that Thomas offers? Can they afford a pair of defensively deficient gunners in Thomas and Porter while also developing a raft of youngsters? Does Thomas provide a guiding light to Brooklyn’s youth movement, or does he stand in the way?
The Nets appear to be waiting out the market, looking to sign Thomas on a deal for something closer to the mid-level exception — he has turned down a two-year, $28M offer — than the $25M he is demanding. With cap space across the league at a premium and the specter of the aprons lurking, Nets general manager Sean Marks may have the right idea.
It is a risky game, though. While signing Thomas for a lower cap hold will help in the short term (not just in money directly to the player, but more cap space that Marks can “rent out” for draft considerations) it does risk alienating Thomas himself. If Thomas feels like the club is lowballing or disrespecting him, does he take a shorter deal to get on the open market again in quick time? Does he walk away from Brooklyn altogether, despite the likely lesser financial rewards?
If Thomas chooses the latter option, there are teams out there who could certainly use him. Signing a lower-value deal with Boston might allow the Celtics to move on from Anfernee Simons, helping their quest for a sub-apron cap sheet. If the Chicago Bulls can’t come to an agreement with fellow RFA Josh Giddey, would they pivot to a Thomas-Coby White backcourt?Â
He could do worse than ring chase with the Denver Nuggets, with the additive of Nikola Jokic feeding him open looks. He would be a fine Desmond Bane replacement for the Memphis Grizzlies. So many options, each putting him squarely in the limelight, where good play could lead to the type of deal he’s seeking in Brooklyn right now.Â
Don’t sleep on Milwaukee, either. While Milwaukee’s cap situation means it can’t sign Thomas outright, the possibility of a sign-and-trade for Kyle Kuzma remains. The Bucks forward is due $43M over the next two seasons. Would a 2032 first rounder — Giannis Antetokounmpo will be 37 when the pick conveys — be enough to pry Thomas away?
Look back at those double-team numbers above. Antetokounmpo and Thomas would undoubtedly help each other avoid double teams, allowing them to be even deadlier with ball in hand. The Bucks are being aggressive in their moves with the double-barreled aim of staying in quasi contention and keeping Antetokounmpo happy. Thomas could be a key cog in that process.
While the RFA market gives the Nets an advantage, Thomas is not without his own joker cards, should he choose to play them. This could be a fascinating staring contest.Â
