Cam Thomas returned from an ankle sprain for the last two Nets games and it’s had a positive effect on their top player, Mikal Bridges, according to The New York Post’s Brian Lewis.
Thomas had 29 points and five assists in a win over Cleveland on Sunday, while Bridges had his best offensive output in five games, supplying 25 points and five assists. Bridges shot 9-for-14 from the field.
“It was good for Mikal, too, to see some shots go in, and coming off the curl, playing off [Thomas], just taking the pressure off himself and stepping up,” interim coach Kevin Ollie said. “He puts so much work in, so I know those seeds that he’s planted are going to bloom and blossom at some point.”
We have more on the Nets:
- Speaking of Thomas, the team is looking for him to be a more well-rounded player instead of just being known as a scorer, Lewis writes. He showed signs of that against the Cavaliers. “Yeah, we challenged him about the EGBs [energy-generating behaviors]. He had seven rebounds, five assists. So it wasn’t all his scoring,” Ollie said. “He was contributing in other ways, and that’s great to see. I want him to keep that up. We’re gonna keep challenging him. We want him to be a masterpiece on the offensive end and a masterpiece on a defensive end. And he can do it. But we’ve got to keep challenging [him].”
- Thomas is extension-eligible this offseason and it’ll be tough to attach a dollar figure to him due to his reputation as a one-dimensional player, Lucas Kaplan of NetsDaily.com opines. Meanwhile, unrestricted free agent Nic Claxton will be one of the top players on the market. Claxton is the team’s defensive stalwart but his inconsistent performances sometimes lead to bad losses, Kaplan writes.
- Forward Cameron Johnson has been upgraded to probable for the team’s road game against the Magic on Wednesday, Lewis tweets. Johnson has missed the last three games.
Would love to see Zach moved to Brooklyn.
Chicago can have Cam Thomas, Ben Simmons and a first round pick plus whatever… maybe even Cam Johnson he wouldn’t be off the table for me.
Zach is exactly what they need, a number 1 option, that can go off for 30 any given night. Gets out and runs hard in transition, can iso ball, can shoot off the catch. As Cam does when he goes off it takes pressure off Mikal and he plays better.
Brooklyn’s big 3 next year, Zach Mikal and Claxton with Schroder and DFS as role players.
Chicago get Cam Thomas as the backcourt partner to Coby White and can build from there. Either Ben Simmons and picks for a quick reset (his expiring deal and draft picks) or Cam Johnson if they want to continue pretending to be this competitive side.
If Brooklyn is stuck with Ben then so be it, they keep their picks and next offseason his 40mil deal expires and you can spend wisely attempting to build around your new core.
I want whatever you’re smoking.
Why on earth would the Bulls be okay with paying a combined 60+ million dollars to the combo of Lonzo and Simmons?
Careful, he’ll get defensive and tell you that you didn’t read what he wrote. Even if what he wrote doesn’t make any damn sense.
Getting Thomas to play an all around game. Is sound thinking. They need to coach him that way. Offensively he’s got big potential.
At this point. I’d be playing for next yr if I’m Nets. Nets have zero picks in 2024 draft.
Should move on from Ben ….