On Thursday morning, Cam Thomas signed his qualifying offer with the Brooklyn Nets, meaning not only will he be a realistic trade target for the Milwaukee Bucks, but he could be someone they look to sign next summer. With Damian Lillard off the roster, Milwaukee’s guard room may be the worst in the league. Adding Thomas would help fix that issue, giving Giannis Antetokounmpo a new co-star who fits well.
For all of Thomas’ defensive weaknesses, he is an absolute bucket on the offensive end. His perimeter creation would fit nicely alongside Antetokounmpo, taking significant pressure off of the Greek Freak, who will undoubtedly be taking on a very heavy load next season.
The question is, should the Bucks try to trade for him midseason? Or is Thomas more of an offseason target?
How could Cam Thomas help the Bucks?
In the post-Lillard world, the Bucks don’t have much to offer at the guard position. Gary Trent Jr. had an impressive postseason run, but outside of him, the backcourt is made up of Kevin Porter Jr., Cole Anthony, and Ryan Rollins.
Perhaps Anthony could revive his career in Milwaukee, but by the time his tenure came to an end with the Orlando Magic, he was barely in the rotation. One night, he could get 20 minutes, but the next, he’d get a DNP.
As for Porter and Rollins, both are relatively unproven at this point in their careers. Porter showed flashes as a youngster, but after a year away from the NBA in 2023-24, he came back and split last season between the LA Clippers and Bucks. Though he shot well during his time in Milwaukee, he’s not exactly an ideal choice to be the starting point guard on a playoff team. (And certainly not one with title aspirations, which Antetokounmpo undoubtedly has.)
That’s where Thomas could come into play. Though he hasn’t been able to contribute to winning yet up to this point in his career, playing with Antetokounmpo would certainly help with that.
The 23-year-old guard is constantly pressured, yet still manages to put up solid scoring numbers. And with a guy like Antetokounmpo next to him, perhaps his efficiency could take a leap as well.
Having a guy as comfortable as Thomas is with the ball in his hands would be ideal for the Bucks, and whether they trade for him this season or try to sign him next summer as an unrestricted free agent, he should be toward the top of their target list.