Cam Thomas has already injected excitement into the Milwaukee Bucks' offense. So far, he has had games of 34 points in 25 minutes and 27 points in 21 minutes. Scoring in bunches is exactly what he was brought in to do.
But the Bucks can unlock a whole new level of his game. After their victory in New Orleans, Thomas shared how much he enjoys playing with teammates who can knock down shots around him.
"Everybody’s a threat, so you love being on the court with people like that. Everybody being a threat to shoot, knock shots down, so, makes my life easier. I mean, I think we were all just playing off one another. Playing with the pass, playing together. That’s all you ask for in a basketball game."
Everyone knows Thomas can score, but he can grow as a passer
Bucks fans have no complaints about the ex-Nets guard's contributions in Milwaukee. One thing that has been missing, however, is any volume in the assists column. Thus far, Thomas has yet to record more than two in a game, and while it's early in Bucks tenure, that aligns with his track record. In his career, he has averaged only 2.1 assists alongside 15.3 points per contest. Thomas has never averaged more than 3.8 dimes in a season despite a high usage percentage.
His assist rate and overall playmaking profile can improve considerably if he takes advantage of his new teammates. The Bucks' roster is full of capable shooters. AJ Green and Ryan Rollins are lethal. Garry Harris is also shooting above 40 percent on low volume. Kevin Porter Jr.'s efficiency has dropped way off on pull-up shots, but he can still convert catch-and-shoot opportunities.
Among Bucks bigs, Bobby Portis, Myles Turner, Pete Nance, and Ousmane Dieng can all lace it. Turner is shooting an excellent 38.7 percent from deep, and that's the lowest figure among them.
Compare Thomas' options in Brooklyn. At a minimum of two attempts per game, the Nets have four players shooting 35 percent or better: Michael Porter Jr. (37.5 percent), Egor Demin (38.0), Jalen Wilson (35.9), and Terrance Mann (35.0). Coming off the bench, Thomas would share limited time with Porter or Demin, both starters, anyway.
He'll have no shortage of quality shotmakers in Milwaukee. It's difficult to construct a lineup that doesn't include multiple players shooting above 40 percent from distance. In theory, putting the ball in Thomas' hands with the option of spraying out to Dieng, Nance, Portis, or Rollins should create plenty of assists.
Thomas will always look to get his, and that's fine, but it's even better if he is motivated by teammates who can pay off passes with baskets. Not only do Milwaukee's perimeter shooters clear space for him to score in isolation, but he should also be confident giving up the ball to create shots for them. The potential of that symbiotic relationship is a scary thought for opposing defenses.
In Milwaukee, Thomas already looks revitalized despite playing on a minutes restriction. The opportunity to grow his game is there for the taking. If he adds flair as a facilitator, watch out.