Cam Thomas Reportedly Will Be RFA After Nets Qualifying Offer, Sharpe Not Tendered

After emerging as one of the NBA's fastest-rising stars, the Brooklyn Nets aren't letting guard Cam Thomas go easily.

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Thomas received a $5.99 million qualifying offer from the Nets on Sunday, making him a restricted free agent this offseason. The 2024-25 campaign was the final year of his previous contract after Brooklyn exercised the option on his rookie deal, which had a total value of $10.4 million. The team will now have the right to match any deal Thomas receives from other franchises on the open market.

Meanwhile, Scotto added that the Nets decided not to tender a one-year, $5.98 million qualifying offer for center Day'Ron Sharpe, making him an unrestricted free agent. Scotto noted that Brooklyn "hopes to re-sign him with cap space flexibility," leaving the door open for his possible return.

The Athletic's Sam Amick reported on Nov. 19 that the Nets were "expected to be open for business," and Thomas "is widely considered to be available," but the team ultimately retained him at the 2025 trade deadline.

Thomas appeared in 66 games with 51 starts in 2023-24 and averaged then-career-highs across the board with a team-leading 22.5 points while adding 3.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 31.4 minutes. He picked up right where he left off this past season, setting new career-best marks with averages of 24.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists. Unfortunately, he appeared in just 25 games while dealing with a hamstring injury that eventually forced him to be ruled out for the remainder of the year.

Last year, the LSU product had four 40-point games, and his eight career 40-point games at the age of 22 or younger passed Bernard King for the most in Nets franchise history. The now-23-year-old notched another one this past year when he dropped a season-high 43 points in a loss to the New York Knicks on Nov. 15.

With Thomas in and out of the lineup, the Nets finished with a 26-56 record and ranked 12th in the Eastern Conference.

Sharpe was the 29th pick in the 2021 draft by the Phoenix Suns but was shipped to Brooklyn before the start of his rookie year. Over four years with the Nets, he has career averages of 6.5 points and 5.6 rebounds. He saw more opportunities during the 2024-25 season, playing a career-high 18.1 minutes per game and averaging 7.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

By giving Thomas the qualifying offer, the Nets indicated that they're comfortable forging ahead with him leading their young core. While Sharpe wasn't tendered, it sounds like there's still a chance that he stays put. Brooklyn is in the early stages of a rebuild, but retaining Thomas and Sharpe would be a step in the right direction.