Adam Armbrecht here, the host of the daily Locked On Nets podcast, with your daily Locked On Nets newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Nets and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Brooklyn Nets’ approach to Cam Thomas: Trade or keep?
Nov 17, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) brings the ball up in the second quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images|Wendell Cruz/Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The Brooklyn Nets have been trading rumor-central over the past few years, and this season is no different. While the focus has often been on the veterans, the buzz around young star Cam Thomas has certainly caught fans’ ears. Whether the Nets trade Thomas, in large part likely depends on how the NBA views his value and how the Nets view their short-term goals.
Cam Thomas: A Valuable Asset or Trade Bait? With no rookie extension in place, Cam Thomas entered the season with uncertainty surrounding his future. It’s not surprising to see his name in trade talks, given the Nets’ openness to exploring all options. In reality, it should be expected given the organization’s track record with their first-round Guard.
The likelihood of Thomas being traded seems low. While his game has evolved, particularly on the defensive end, it is unlikely that his play drastically change the league’s opinion of him. This is not to say teams will not call, but where they value him in terms of draft picks remains widely unknown.
GM Sean Marks has been known for “digging in” when it comes to setting expectations around trades. Even now, on a rebuilding trajectory, history has proven the Nets are not simply going to hold a fire sale across the entire roster if the return value is not there.
The Nets’ Strategic Approach The other side of the trade market equation is not overpaying talent prior to Free Agency. By allowing Thomas to enter restricted free agency, the Nets can let the market dictate his value. This approach mirrors their handling of Nicolas Claxton, allowing external offers to set the price before deciding to match.
It’s a calculated move that could benefit the Nets financially, especially under the new CBA’s financial restrictions and how teams value players relative to the super-star talents and their massive contracts.
The lack of a rookie extension for Thomas is not necessarily a sign of disinterest from the Nets. Instead, it reflects a broader strategy of flexibility and future planning. The team is building towards a different kind of future, with an eye on upcoming draft classes and potential high draft picks.
This long-term vision means that while Thomas is a valuable player, the Nets are not rushing to make a definitive decision about his role in their future.
The rumors surrounding Thomas could also be a strategic move by the Nets to gauge interest and evaluate his market value. By floating his name in trade discussions, the Nets can assess how other teams view Thomas and what they might be willing to offer. This information is invaluable as the team navigates its options and plans for the future.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Brooklyn Nets’ trade strategies and Cam Thomas’s role, tune into the Locked On Nets podcast for this and much more.
A refrain I’ve increasingly heard from casuals, like the talking heads on the NBA’s biggest broadcast partners, is that the league is too homogenous these days, that every team just goes out there and chucks up threes. Every game is the same.
Leaving aside the shortsightedness of famous, influential media analysts dumping on their own product, it’s a common enough complaint that I felt an urge to investigate. My eyeballs tell me the league’s never been more diverse and fun, thanks largely to the absurd wealth of stars today with skill sets as bespoke as their draft night suits. Jokic’s Nuggets look nothing like Tatum’s Celtics look nothing like Brunson’s Knicks, and to suggest otherwise is willful ignorance.
As I wrote about for Basketball Poetry yesterday, the current top five offenses are Boston, Cleveland, New York, the Lakers, and Dallas. Those five teams rank first, 14th, 17th, 24th, and 21st, respectively, in share of shots that are triples. You certainly don’t need to launch a million threes relative to your peers to score the basketball successfully.
Of course, that’s a rather superficial analysis. Regardless of rank, what if the absolute numbers are all getting closer together? That would represent a growing sameness.
I looked at shot data from this season, a decade ago, and 20 years ago to see how much the share of three-pointers had changed.
Mike Shearer (@bballispoetry) has written about the NBA full-time since 2021 at various and sundry places. For more from Mike, check out his Substack bestseller, Basketball Poetry, where he uses unnecessary metaphors and the occasional haiku to discuss the NBA’s happenings with an analytical lens.
Home and Away
Stat Owen Phillips of The F5 looks at how often centers defend guards, how often perimeter players are involuntarily guarded by centers (aka the Tony Allen effect), and much more in his analytical newsletter.
Analysis Jared Dubin of Last Night, In Basketball discusses something related: what kind of players are guarding point guards these days?
Must Read Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic talks about the NBA’s increasing difficulty for defensive-minded, older players, but the real story is that Draymond Green claims to have started lifting just four years ago.
Injury With Cam Thomas sidelined, backup Jalen Wilson stepped up significantly for the Nets, showcasing his ability to fill the gap and contribute under pressure. See his performance and how it impacts the team. (NY Post)
Preview The Pistons will go head-to-head against the Hornets at the Spectrum Center at 7:00 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
The Randomness Of Fantasy Basketball On A Wednesday In The NBA
Nov 20, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) drives to the basket as Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells (0) defends during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images|Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Top Five Fantasy Takeaways from Wednesday’s Games
1. Paul George’s Knee Injury Concerns
Paul George’s knee hyperextension during the 76ers vs. Grizzlies game is a significant concern for fantasy managers. While initial reports suggest no structural damage, his availability in the coming games is uncertain. This situation could open up opportunities for other players on the 76ers to step up, making it crucial to monitor updates closely.
2. Unpredictable Pelicans vs. Cavaliers Game
The Pelicans vs. Cavaliers matchup was a bizarre affair, with unexpected lineups and performances. Elfrid Payton started for the Pelicans, and Jaylon Tyson shone for the Cavs, but these anomalies are unlikely to have long-term fantasy implications. Managers should view this game as an outlier and avoid making hasty roster changes based on these performances.
3. Pacers’ Struggles and Tyrese Haliburton’s Slump
The Pacers are facing challenges, particularly with Tyrese Haliburton’s shooting woes. His road performance has been notably poor, possibly due to lingering back issues. Despite this, Haliburton’s track record suggests a turnaround is likely, making him a prime buy-low candidate for managers willing to take a risk on his recovery.
Click the button below to see how Norman Powell’s injury could open up opportunities for the Clippers, and a top 50 player returns to action.
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Cam Johnson shines and Brooklyn Nets come back to beat Hornets The Brooklyn Nets were without Cam Thomas on Tuesday, but Cam Johnson picked up the slack, scoring 34 points in a comeback win over the Charlotte Hornets.
Brooklyn Nets getting Trendon Watford and Day’Ron Sharpe back can help in short-term
The Brooklyn Nets have been crushed on the interior this season and could really use some size in the post to deal with opposing team’s centers. Trendon Watford back means another big body in the mix and Day’Ron Sharpe is targeting a return soon. How will they factor in with Nic Claxton out with injury?
Brooklyn Nets swept in MSG by Knicks, waste Cam Thomas 43-point game
The Brooklyn Nets played two games Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks over the weekend, losing a very close game at the buzzer on Friday night.
