New York Notes: Thomas, Simmons, Kolek, Knicks, Klutch

Nets guard Cam Thomas is eligible for a rookie scale extension until Oct. 21. If he doesn’t sign an extension, he’ll be on track for restricted free agency next summer.

Speaking to Erik Slater of Clutch Points on the Bleav in Nets podcast (YouTube link), Brian Lewis of The New York Post said opinions on Thomas vary wildly around the NBA, making it difficult to get a read on what type of contract he might receive in a possible extension or as a RFA.

“With Cam Thomas, there is no sort of baseline,” Lewis said. “Some scouts, they think he walks on water, they love him. ‘Oh, he’s a bucket. Oh, he’s this, he’s that.’ Others wouldn’t touch him with a ten-foot pole. They want no part of it. No matter what he’s getting paid, they don’t want any part of it.

“I’ve never seen a player like this, frankly, that is, when I say he’s divisive, I don’t mean that he’s divisive in the locker room and guys don’t get along with him. I mean, there is no sort of agreement between scouts or front office personnel [on] what his value is on the market, or how good of a player can he be.”

Here are some more notes on the NBA’s two New York-based teams:

• Oddsmakers think the Nets will have the worst record in the league in 2024/25. Critics of Cam Thomas think he’s just a high-volume scorer on a bad team. He’s out to prove his doubters wrong and has taken up head coach Jordi Fernandez‘s challenge of scoring more efficiently this season, according to Lewis of The New York Post (subscription required). “I definitely keep receipts,” Thomas told Sports+ this week. “Everybody uses different stuff as motivation. So, you know, I have a lot of stuff I’m going to use for motivation this year. And we’ll see how that goes for us. But I’m definitely ready and ready to prove people wrong this year.”
• In an exclusive interview with Lewis, swingman Ben Simmons says he’s focused on providing leadership to a young Nets team and isn’t thinking about what the future might hold. Simmons, a three-time All-Star who has missed most of the past three seasons with back issues, is on an expiring $40.3MM contract. “We have a younger team that I want to help these guys get better. I want to lead by example. I want to compete,” Simmons told The Post. “Jordi [Fernandez] is coming in first year. It’s a big year for him. I want to be a leader on this team. So f– what happens next year, and what contract I get, if I get a contract. I want to do my job while I’m here and be professional and help these guys in any way I can. So who knows? I want to play as long as my body will allow me. So if it’s one year, five years, six years, I don’t know what it is. But I just want to keep going until I can’t anymore.”
• Simmons also recently spoke to Law Murray of The Athletic about what roles he might play for the Nets this season, assuming he stays healthy, which is obviously a major question mark. The 28-year-old sounds more open to playing frontcourt minutes than he has in the past. “I’m an older guy now,” Simmons said. “I’m pretty strong down there. … I’m always up for that challenge. I think it’s just one of those things where, if your name is called to do a job, then you step up and try and do it to the best of your ability. So that’s what I’m going to do every night and try and contribute and do the best I can.”
• Rookie second-rounder Tyler Kolek is soaking up wisdom from the veterans on the Knicks‘ roster as he adjusts to the NBA, writes Steve Popper of Newsday (subscriber link). “All the vets, just leaning on them, they’ve been there before,” Kolek said. “They know how this works. I’m kind of coming into this blind. Three years in college, each year I knew what to expect. Coming into this league I don’t really know what to expect, so just really leaning on those guys, leaning on my teammates to guide me through.”
• Stefan Bondy of The New York Post explains how the Knicks‘ improved relationship with Klutch Sports played a significant role in the team’s blockbuster trade for Karl-Anthony Towns.