CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Just because Cam Thomas is the Nets’ leading returning scorer doesn’t mean he’s returning.
Thomas is going into a walk year, an unrestricted free agent next summer after failing to come to a long-term extension in Brooklyn.
But on the eve of the season — with the Nets opening Wednesday in Charlotte — Thomas insists he isn’t worried about his contract, and says it’s not hard to keep his focus on the court.
“Nah, it’s easy. I’m not really worried about that. It’ll take care of itself,” Thomas said. “The main goal is just being on the court and playing, being out there. I love to hoop, I love to play, so that’s really the main thing I’m trying to do this year. Whatever happens, happens. I’ll let that take care of itself.”
Thomas led the Nets in scoring last season but was limited to just 25 games due to hamstring injuries.
He came back to camp slimmed down, but claimed it had nothing to do with preventing injuries but was purely cosmetic.
“Nah, it’s felt the same, it’s just more so the look. I really didn’t feel any different,” Thomas said. “Obviously, when you drop some weight you get a little quicker. I felt like I was kind of quick last year, but I feel like I’m quicker this year, in a sense. But, nah, I didn’t really feel any different. I felt good, just ready to go.”
Thomas struggled in the preseason by his standards, averaging just 13.3 points and shooting 39 percent overall and 15.4 percent from deep.
But Brooklyn is finally finished installing sets for both Thomas and Michael Porter Jr., and coach Jordi Fernández is expressing confidence in his two top offensive threats.
“We’re doing whatever the team needs right now, and obviously, when you’re at the beginning of the season, there’s just so much you can do, and my job is to decide what that process looks like,” Fernández said. “I’m pretty much sure that the other day [Porter] took 20 shots and 10 3s, so I think it’s working very well for him.
“Same with CT, he got six assists and two turnovers. He didn’t shoot as well, but I want him to be aggressive because I know it’s gonna go in. So I’m not concerned with how many plays or sets I have for each one of them. They’re doing a very good job and they’re gonna be very impactful if they see the floor on both ends and give the effort defensively, I’m very, very pleased.”
After being plagued by injuries last season, the Nets head into Wednesday’s opener healthy with everybody available vs. the Hornets other than Haywood Highsmith (knee).
