Cam Thomas‘ playing time dropped late last season and it doesn’t figure to spike upward with all of the Nets’ stars back in action this season, Brian Lewis of the New York Post notes.
“We’ll see how it goes after training camp. But he clearly is on a veteran team with a lot of guys who can play, have had a lot of success,” coach Steve Nash said. “We know Cam’s talented, and just trying to continue to develop him and see if he can keep pushing and getting better at certain things that’ll help him get minutes. I said whether he plays or he doesn’t play, he has to stay positive, he has to keep the belief that this process is going to help him.”
Thomas appeared in 67 games last season, averaging 8.5 PPG in 17.6 MPG.
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- After all the drama he created during the offseason, Nets superstar Kevin Durant doesn’t want to continue answering questions about it, according to ESPN’s Nick Friedell. “Can we move on past that at some point?” Durant said. “I know it’s an interesting story. I know that it took up most of the offseason and drama sells, I get that, but I didn’t miss any games, I didn’t miss any practices, I’m still here. So hopefully we can move past that.”
- Blake Griffin‘s versatility convinced the Celtics to take a flier on him, according to Jared Weiss of The Athletic. He was used more as a floor spacer and roller rather than the post-up scorer last season with the Nets, and he’s an adept ball handler. That makes him a more natural fit in Boston’s scheme. Griffin, who agreed to a one-year guaranteed deal, could see minutes at either power forward or center despite his defensive limitations.
- With Ime Udoka out of the picture and young assistant Joe Mazzulla serving as the Celtics’ interim coach, Al Horford and Jayson Tatum need to take on bigger leadership roles, Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com opines. Horford can be more vocal and even demonstrative, while Tatum can set a better example by not complaining as much to the referees and by being quicker in terms of ball movement.
- Center Isaiah Hartenstein will bring a new dimension to the Knicks’ second unit, Steve Popper of Newsday writes. Hartenstein fits the blueprint of what coach Tom Thibodeau demands on the defensive end due to his rim protection, Popper notes, and he’ll be tasked at times as the orchestrator of the second-unit offense. Hartenstein signed a two-year, $16.7MM contract as a free agent in July.
Can we stop talking about it because the player/coach/GM Durant says so? Smh
Lol. So KD makes statements and because he wants it over he thinks they should be over? Let’s see how that plays out.
If Cam Thomas can be patient; he will have a monster third year and get plenty of playing time. Both Sean Marks and Steve Nash will get fired. Kyrie Irving will leave in free agency and Seth Curry will also leave in free agency.
Wondering why Cam Thomas doesn’t play more? He sure can score & at 6’4″ maybe he could improve Nets D. Guess it’s because Kyrie is there.
Cam is effectively the back up point guard for the Nets. He did well at the position in the summer leauge. He scored a rare coaches interview from Nash as well.
Which means Nash was compleley thrilled.
You really have to wonder what kinda people surround KD (or he let’s surround him)
It takes a village they say, but that comes with a spectrum of varying thoughts to counter balance actions.
KD seems to be flying solo with a 1/5 th of Jack as his co-pilot and no flying lessons. This is what PR teams were made for, but KD likes going stag still against all his best interests
Good points. I think he’s such an arrogant jerk and drama queen that any PR team personnel that would give him constructive criticism and disagree with the direction he wants to go … would just get fired. He’s really beyond even being able to have a PR team
I publicly requested … no – demanded a trade and tried to oust my coach and GM but let’s not discuss it publicly. I acknowledge the drama and attention it created, but now that I didn’t get my way can we just drop it guys? He’s good enough on the court to get away with this, but damn this dude is a jerk. It’s hard to find a player to root against more.