Nets guard Cam Thomas is set to make his return from a hamstring strain on Friday against the Trail Blazers, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto (Twitter link). Thomas hasn’t made an appearance in a game since Jan. 2 due to the injury.
In his first 19 games this season, Thomas averaged 24.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per night while shooting 44.8% from the field and 37.5% on 7.6 three-point attempts per game. A talented scorer and shooter, Thomas should boost an offense that now ranks 27th on the season and has averaged just 100.7 points per game (which would rank last in the league by a wide margin) since Thomas went down.
Despite their underwhelming offensive numbers over the past couple months, the Nets are still only 1.5 games out of a play-in spot. They have games against the streaking Pistons and Warriors on the horizon, but the Nets have been competitive under first-year head coach Jordi Fernandez.
The rotation upon Thomas’s return will be worth monitoring. The LSU product didn’t start either of his previous two outings, as he had also missed almost all of December due to another hamstring injury. Keon Johnson has taken over the starting two guard spot since Thomas’s injury.
With both Thomas and D’Angelo Russell out, the Nets have been turning to a starting backcourt consisting of Killian Hayes and Johnson.
I’m sure he’s preparing to recoup all those ill advised missed contested shots.