Top Landing Spots for Cam Thomas After Brooklyn Nets Waive Guard at 2026 Trade Deadline
After the Brooklyn Nets failed to find a Cam Thomas trade ahead of this week's deadline, they promptly gave him a new path out of the organization.
Despite his struggles to become a winning player in Brooklyn, Thomas is still just 24 years old. He's averaged double figures in each of the last four seasons and scored over 20 points per game in two different campaigns. Believe it or not, he already has 10 career 40-point games (only 28 players in league history had more before turning 25).
A team in need of a scoring punch off the bench could talk itself into Thomas' volume shooting. If it has some veteran guards to mentor him, even better.
The teams that fit him best can be found below.
Houston Rockets
1 of 4
When the Houston Rockets lost Fred VanVleet to a torn ACL on the eve of the 2025-26 campaign, it was reasonable to think Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson could pick up most of the slack.
And while both have had their moments as primary playmakers for Houston, the offense has looked disorganized in recent weeks, especially without Steven Adams' offensive rebounding to juice the numbers.
Thomas obviously doesn't replace the experience and passing that VanVleet would've brought to this team, but his scoring would make the second unit far more dangerous.
New York Knicks
2 of 4
The New York Knicks are another team whose reality hasn't quite lived up to preseason expectations.
When Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele were signed, it seemed like they'd be able to power a dynamic second unit behind Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
But we're now in mid-February, and the Knicks are 27th in the league in bench points per game.
Thomas told ESPN's Marc J. Spears that his next team would be getting "elite scoring." And at least when their starters are off the floor, the Knicks could use exactly that.
Sacramento Kings
3 of 4
After losing Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis in a trade for De'Andre Hunter, the Sacramento Kings could use a little help in the backcourt.
And while Thomas obviously wouldn't be able to push the Kings toward play-in contention this season (it's way too late for that), he's young enough to develop alongside Keegan Murray over the next couple of years.
Part of that development would need to include improved shot selection and more of a willingness to pass, but that's doable over the life of a two- or three-year deal.
Orlando Magic
4 of 4
The Orlando Magic signed Tyus Jones to pilot the second unit, but he was almost too risk-averse, and the team salary-dumped him to the Charlotte Hornets (who later re-routed him to the Dallas Mavericks) ahead of the deadline.
That means there may now be some minutes available in the backcourt, especially since Jalen Suggs is so often on the injury report.
And while Thomas may be on the complete other end of that risk spectrum, having anyone who'll pull some perimeter attention away from Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner could help an offense that currently ranks in the bottom 10.
