A day after Cam Thomas claimed he had nothing left to show, the Nets countered by saying his keep in Brooklyn might relaxation on simply how a lot he does show.
On Jordi Fernandez’s first day of coaching camp Tuesday, he stated Thomas — whom the Nets can both prolong or let hit restricted free company subsequent summer time — is a gifted younger participant.
However Thomas should hone these items, and settle for assist doing so.
“Yeah, numbers are essential, but in addition movie,” Fernandez stated of bettering Thomas’ effectivity. “Movie doesn’t lie, and on the finish of the day, what I need is for Cam to be a greater participant so we is usually a higher workforce.
“That’s fairly easy. It’s not rocket science. You both get higher otherwise you worsen. If he will get worse, then there’s a dialogue of if he’s a part of the longer term. If he will get higher, he’s an excellent participant with nice superpowers.”
Thomas’ superpower is scoring, averaging 22.5 factors final season — and 25.2 after the All-Star break when interim coach Kevin Ollie changed Jacque Vaughn. Now, Fernandez has succeeded Ollie, and has to information Thomas to a different degree.
On Monday, Thomas had stated, “I’m not likely gonna change what I do. I’ll simply make it extra environment friendly,” and added, “I really feel like I actually don’t have anything to show. I proved myself numerous instances in my tenure right here, so if there’s nonetheless any extra proving to do, then I don’t know what to say.”
However whether or not Tuesday’s first day of camp was an epiphany or simply optics, Thomas, 22, talked about having to show himself to Fernandez.
“It’s early,” Thomas stated. “He’s nonetheless new, so I’m going out right here to show myself. I’ve nonetheless bought to show myself. Everyone’s seen the whole lot on the movie from final yr, it’s a variety of promise, however I wish to show it to him in apply and preseason and clearly the video games. So I simply wanna preserve proving myself day-by-day.”
That movie confirmed Thomas shouldering the scoring load after Mikal Bridges went right into a funk. He averaged 26.6 factors after getting back from a February ankle harm, and 28.0 over the ultimate ten video games.
With Bridges traded, Thomas is locked in as the primary choice. However that safety hasn’t led to complacency.
“In case you don’t have one thing that motivates you or drives you to maintain getting higher, striving to be higher, then there’s no motive to be out right here taking part in,” Thomas stated. “So I’m going to maintain that drive and preserve that chip on my shoulder.”
Thomas has to show his value to not solely Fernandez, however GM Sean Marks.
Tuesday began a three-week window to increase Thomas, however no talks are believed to have taken place and it’s extra seemingly he hits restricted free company, the place league specialists really feel he might get gives within the $17.5-to-$20 million vary.
“I’m fairly certain my agent can have conversations with them,” Thomas stated, “however I’m simply anxious in regards to the season. That is the chance I’ve been wanting since I bought into the league: to play, be free, so I’m simply gonna benefit from it, and no matter occurs, occurs.”
To benefit from that probability, Thomas must preserve bettering his protection, playmaking and effectivity.
The latter, in response to Fernandez, can come by way of taking fewer dribbles.
Thomas’ efficient subject aim proportion on seems to be with out a dribble is a career-high 65.8 %, and a stable 50.8 % on one dribble and 48.3 % with two. However when he takes between three-and- six dribbles, it falls to 43.8 %.
“We will present numbers, we will present movie, we will present numbers with the movie. I can sit down with him and stroll by way of stuff. He’s a wise child. He is aware of what I want from him,” Fernandez stated. “I’m gonna preserve sending the identical message to him. … I’m gonna problem him the identical approach I’m gonna problem all people else, as a result of he needs to be keen to be a greater participant. That’s what the NBA is.”
