For Cam Thomas, this is a contract year. A huge year.
And he insists he’s not changing who he is as a player. But he’s clearly still growing into exactly whoever that’s going to be.
After failing to agree on a long-term extension with the Nets — settling for the one-year qualifying offer that suggests a possible exit from Brooklyn — Thomas has looked like a man on a mission so far this training camp and preseason.
But what exactly will that mission be?
“Cam, he has the ability to be one of those guys, young, still trying to find his way,” Hall of Fame ex-Net Vince Carter told The Post. “But this is the big year for him.”
For good reason.
A restricted free agent this summer, Thomas rejected both of Brooklyn’s reported offers, a two-year, $30 million deal and a $9.5 million deal with incentives. In the end, he settled for the one-year, $5.99 million qualifying offer. It gave him a no-trade clause and, perhaps more important, unrestricted free agency.
But with agency comes responsibility. Thomas has to prove that he can not just score — that has never been in doubt — but also stay healthy, defend and be a playmaker.
After hamstring injuries limited Thomas to just 25 games last season, he shed weight this summer and came to camp in better shape.
As far as guarding and passing, those are a different matter.
While Thomas joins Michael Porter Jr. as the best scorers on the roster, they’re equally porous on the other end. Thomas’ lackadaisical defense cost them in Friday’s loss, when he completely lost Collin Gillespie for the latter’s buzzer-beating 3 to end the half.
“NBA games are about the details. We gave up a 3 at the end of the second quarter. It would’ve been a 15-point game, and instead it ended up being 12. … Then we gave up another 3 at the end of the third. Those are six points,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said. “I want the guys to be focused not just at the end, but throughout the game.”
As far as his playmaking, Thomas has looked more focused and mature. The fact he’ll come into Sunday’s game vs. Phoenix in Macao, China, averaging a team-high five assists is notable.
Averaging just 1.8 for his career a year ago, his 3.8 last season showed growth. And his 5.8 in March was impressive, handing out a career-high ten in his final game at Chicago.
After dishing out six Friday vs. the Suns, does he expect to be more of a playmaker this season?
“No, I’m just playing my game,” Thomas said. “Teams are going to double me, so that’s going to lead to assists. When the guys make the shots it’s going to lead to assists. So I’m just going to play my game, and if that requires the assists, then great.
“But I’m still a scorer at heart. It’s also adding that playmaking aspect, being able to make the right play and keep the defense [honest]. So I’m just going to read the game. Some games it might be a lot of assists, and most of the game is going to be a lot of points. It’s just about reading the game and taking what the defense gives me.”
But Thomas is figuring out how to use his gravity to create looks for others. It’ll be a valuable lesson for the Nets and their young guard.
“Yeah, me and Jordi always talk about it, we always have conversations about it,” Thomas said. “Jordi is also very understanding of who I am as a player. He knows I’m a scorer and he knows how I play.
“But it’s also the fine line of being aggressive, get your own shot and then getting guys other shots. We always have that dialogue, and it’s great. So this year we have a better understanding. He has a better understanding of me, and I have a better understanding of what he wants. So that’s just going to lead to great things for us as a unit. So it’s definitely on the trend up.”
