Brooklyn Nets

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas isn't worried about his upcoming restricted free agency and expressed his interest in remaining with the organization.

"I don't really care," he said, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post. "It's just part of the business. Whoever wants me, hopefully it's here. I'd love to come back. But it is what it is. It's just part of the business. I'm just going to take it day by day. It's a long time from now, so I'm not really worried about that. Right now is still early, a lot of months to go until I really have to worry about what's going to happen."

The Nets announced that the 23-year-old was expected to be out for the remainder of the 2024-25 season with a left hamstring strain on Saturday.

Thomas' upcoming free agency is interesting, as he's shown the ability to score efficiently on high volume. But he also has some defensive concerns and appeared in just 25 games this season due to hamstring issues.

"It was good experiencing all the love from fans here, teammates, front office, everybody," Thomas said, via Lewis. "I feel like I built a lot of great relationships here. It's a business at the end of the day. I'd love to be back and get that straightened out, just to keep playing in front of the fans and keep building relationships that I built here."

While he acknowledged that remaining in Brooklyn isn't guaranteed, he isn't hoping to experience a change of scenery.

"I was drafted here so I definitely have a connection here," Thomas said. "I definitely want to be back by the end of the day, like I said. We just have to look into that. But whatever happens, happens. I'm just going to let my agents and the front office discuss that. It should be good. I would be very happy to be back if I am back."

During his shortened 2024-25 campaign, Thomas averaged 24.0 points and 3.8 assists per game on 43.8/34.9/88.1 shooting splits.

He's been hampered by injuries throughout his career, suiting up in just 215 of a possible 328 regular-season games since he made his debut in 2021.

Given Thomas' upcoming status as a restricted free agent, Brooklyn has the opportunity to match any contract offer he receives from opposing organizations and retain him. It'll likely be easy for the Nets to do so, as they're projected to have the most 2025-26 cap space in the NBA (via Spotrac).

Lewis reported that Thomas' next contract could fall within the "range" of $20 million to $22 million per year.

The 2021 first-round pick's long-term future in Brooklyn is uncertain, but it's not something that appears to be weighing on him.

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is expected to miss the rest of the 2024-25 season with a left hamstring strain, the team announced Saturday.

Thomas has been hampered by hamstring issues throughout the year, appearing in just 25 games which includes 23 starts.

Despite suffering his latest injury against Chicago on Thursday, the 23-year-old finished with 24 points and 10 assists on 8-of-23 shooting during a 116-110 loss to the Bulls.

Thomas has been a high-volume scorer for Brooklyn when healthy, but availability has remained an issue for him. The former first-round pick hasn't been able to suit up in at least 70 games in all four years of his career.

He appeared to be headed towards a breakout 2024-25 campaign, scoring at least 30 points in three of his first six appearances of the season. Thomas struggled to maintain a similar level of production before hamstring injuries surfaced, though.

He'll end the year with averages of 24.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game on 43.8/34.9/88.1 shooting splits.

The Nets will have an interesting decision to make regarding Thomas, as he's set to enter restricted free agency during the offseason. Brooklyn reportedly made the guard available on the trade market prior to the Feb. 6 deadline.

HoopsHype's Michael Scotto called Thomas "the biggest wild card in free agency" and revealed that "the numbers are all over the place" on a potential contract during a Tuesday appearance on The Putback with Ian Begley (h/t Sharif Phillips-Keaton of Nets Wire).

The Nets currently sit at No. 12 in the Eastern Conference standings with a 22-44 record and will look to close out their final 16 regular-season games without Thomas.

Brooklyn Nets point guard D'Angelo Russell hopes to return to the team in 2025 free agency.

When asked about wanting to stay in Brooklyn by HoopsHype's Michael Scotto, Russell expressed his desire to remain with the Nets.

"Yeah," Russell said. "Why wouldn’t I? I keep seeing stuff coming out. I’ll tell you. Heck yeah. I want to be wherever I’m at. I’m here. I love these guys. I appreciate this, and I would love to be back."

The 29-year-old is finishing the final season of a two-year, $36 million contract that he initially signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023. The Lakers sent Russell to the Nets as part of a trade package for Dorian Finney-Smith on Dec. 29.

The guard is in the midst of his second stint with Brooklyn, previously making the sole All-Star appearance of his career with the organization during the 2018-19 season.

Russell hasn't been able to find any type of shooting rhythm following the trade from Los Angeles, averaging 13.8 points and 5.7 assists per game while shooting 38.9 percent from the field and hitting 31.9 percent of his three-point attempts.

The veteran doesn't precisely fit the timeline of a rebuilding Nets team that currently owns a 22-42 record, but he could operate as a short-term starter for Brooklyn if the team doesn't find a new lead guard in free agency or the draft.

As the Brooklyn Nets look ahead to what could be an important summer for the rebuilding franchise, D'Angelo Russell hopes to remain with the club beyond this season.

Per Brian Lewis of the New York Post, Russell is "believed to have told those around him" he hopes to remain with the Nets in free agency.

Russell was acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 29 as part of the Dorian Finney-Smith trade. His inclusion in the deal was primarily for salary-matching since he's playing on an $18.7 million expiring contract.

The Nets' focus when the offseason begins will be on the lottery. Their 21-40 record is tied with the Philadelphia 76ers for the sixth-worst in the NBA. They could have as many as three first-round picks this year.

Every team at the bottom of the standings is dreaming of the No. 1 pick and opportunity to potentially select Cooper Flagg. The Nets odds to land that pick are currently at 8.3 percent, but a lot of things can change over the final five weeks of the regular season.

Russell's standing in Brooklyn could be safe because there's not an obvious replacement at point guard for the organization. Killian Hayes had been playing on a 10-day contract, but the team elected not to give him a second 10-day deal.

The numbers for Russell on the Nets leave something to be desired. He's averaging 13.7 points on 38.0 percent shooting and 5.7 assists per game in 18 appearances.

Given how many holes there on the Nets roster right now and where they are in the rebuilding process, it wouldn't be a bad idea to bring Russell back if they can get him on a team-friendly deal for one or two years.

Russell is only 29 and is a 36.6 percent shooter from three-point range, so there's an expectation his offensive production will improve over time.

Ben Simmons' time with the Brooklyn Nets is coming to an end.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst, Simmons and the Nets are "finalizing a contract buyout." Simmons is expected to meet with the Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, Charania and Windhorst reported, as he looks to find a new landing spot after Thursday's trade deadline.

NBA insider Chris Haynes added that Simmons intends to meet with the Houston Rockets before making a decision.

While Simmons is not away from the team for injury reasons this time, durability concerns have been a dominating theme in his career.

He played just 15 games for Brooklyn last season and 42 games in 2022-23 after he didn't play a single game during the 2021-22 campaign. The LSU product hasn't even reached the 60-game mark for a season since 2018-19.

Despite those overall concerns, he will still be a headline name on the buyout market.

The No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 draft does have a Rookie of the Year, an All-NBA selection, two All-Defensive selections and three All-Star Game nods on his resume. There was a time when he looked to be a franchise building block for the Philadelphia 76ers and one of the best young stars in the league.

That is no longer the case.

Shooting woes have prevented him from fully living up to his potential, although he has found other ways to impact the game this season while averaging 6.2 points, 6.9 assists and 5.2 rebounds a night.

Whether it is the Clippers, Cavaliers or another contender that adds him, he likely won't be asked to do much beyond being a role player who can help control the boards and facilitate in transition.

Doing that alongside players who draw more defensive attention and create space such as Donovan Mitchell or James Harden could lead to even better overall production.

Brooklyn Nets wing Cam Johnson is available for a deal, but it's possible he'll stay in town after Thursday's trade deadline.

Ian Begley of SNY reported that news Tuesday.

"The Nets' biggest trade chip is Cam Johnson," Begley wrote. "Teams monitoring the situation this week didn't think anyone would make an offer strong enough to acquire Johnson."

Johnson, who turns 29 on March 3, is averaging 19.4 points on 49.1 percent shooting (41.9 percent from three), 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.

Johnson has been mentioned in trade rumors this season.

On Jan. 5, NBA insider Marc Stein mentioned Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings as potential suitors, with Memphis being "frequently mentioned" as a landing spot.

The Kings are probably out on the Johnson talks now, though. On Jan. 22, Stein reported "that there have been no discussions between the Kings and Nets regarding Johnson for weeks." Sacramento has since made a blockbuster deal, trading De'Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs and acquiring Zach LaVine from the Chicago Bulls.

On Jan. 3, ESPN's Brian Windhorst stated that Johnson had "many" suitors. However, Brooklyn was reportedly telling teams they'd have to pay a "steeper price" than the Golden State Warriors did for Dennis Schröder and the Los Angeles Lakers did for Dorian Finney-Smith.

That "steeper price" might be the obstacle that prevents Johnson from going anywhere. He's certainly a tremendous asset, especially with a palatable contract with two years left at $20.5 million in 2025-26 and $22.5 million in 2026-27.

Things could change over the next two days, but as of now, Johnson remains a Net. In the interim, he's working his way back from a right ankle sprain that will force him out of Tuesday's contest with the Houston Rockets.