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Though he deserves to begin in Summer time League, the Brooklyn Nets are making Cam Thomas come off the bench.
Most first-round picks are quick starters in Las Vegas Summer time League, however not Cam Thomas. The Brooklyn Nets are utilizing a forward-thinking method with the rookie’s improvement, making him the Summer time League sixth man.
Thomas, 19, tallied 22 factors and 4 assists off the bench in Brooklyn’s 97-91 win over the Summer time League Bucks. Two nights earlier, Thomas dropped 19 factors in 25 minutes, as soon as once more as a reserve.
The Nets drafted Thomas as a result of he can rating the basketball. Though his capturing numbers by means of two video games (12-for-30, 40% FG) haven’t been nice, he’s flashing his insane upside as a shotmaker.
Cam Thomas shakes into the stepback triple… plus the foul!#NBASummer on ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/SFGecuNVHm
— NBA (@NBA) August 11, 2021
The Huge 3 Isn’t Going Wherever
The Nets are going to revolve round Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden for the following half-decade. Durant is already locked up for 5 years and Nets basic supervisor Sean Marks believes Irving and Harden will sign extensions by coaching camp.
When Durant, Irving, and Harden are on the ground, they’ll dominate the ball. That’s a truth of life for anybody on this Nets roster.
Nonetheless, NBA groups can by no means have sufficient scoring. The Nets are in want of one other bench scorer to assist take stress off of the massive three.
If final 12 months was any indication, the Nets are going to run Harden with the second unit to begin second and fourth quarters. This opens up a possibility for the rookie Thomas to be the Robin to Harden’s Batman throughout these second-unit minutes.
New Territory for Thomas
That is going to be model new for Thomas. He began all 29 video games throughout his freshman season at LSU. To not point out, as a prime highschool recruit within the nation, he was possible beginning in most, if not all of his highschool and AAU video games rising up.
Giving reps to Thomas in Summer time League is a great means for Brooklyn to prioritize Thomas’ improvement.
Final 12 months, the Nets leaned closely on the veterans who surrounded the massive three. This 12 months, they’re injecting some youth into the rotation.
It’s clear that the Nets are grooming Thomas for a second-unit function subsequent season. The query now’s easy: Is he as much as the duty?
Huge East Exhibits Out
Wednesday’s sport between the Nets and Bucks featured two large names from the Huge East — Seton Corridor’s Sandro Mamukelashvili and Windfall’s David Duke Jr.
Mamukelashvili flashed some offensive potential. He can do some little bit of all the things on that finish of the court docket, however he wants to wash up his protection if he needs to safe a future within the NBA.
Duke, however, is taking part in rugged, high-energy protection for the Nets. Whether or not or not he can stick is determined by his skill to knock down jumpers. He was adept at attending to the rim in faculty, however he gained’t be capable to survive with out the three-ball within the NBA.
If nothing else, Mamukelashvili and Duke are getting an opportunity to show themselves in Las Vegas.
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