The Milwaukee Bucks decided to release 24-year-old scoring guard Cam Thomas on Tuesday, moving on from the guard despite signing him just a few weeks ago. Thomas played in 18 games for the Bucks, averaging 10.7 points in these appearances.
Thomas joined the Bucks after being waived by the Brooklyn Nets, who signed him to the $5.9 million qualifying offer last summer after failing to come to terms on a long-term extension. Now, Thomas has been released by two teams in under two months, with his NBA future on thin ice after averaging 14.9 points in 257 games over five seasons.
While Thomas and his fans would’ve hoped he could join a contending team now and make an impact as a bench scorer in the NBA Playoffs, this can’t come to pass either.
According to Spotrac’s Keith Smith, Thomas can sign with any NBA team he wants, but he is ineligibie from participating in the playoffs since he was waived after the March 1 Playoff Eligibility Waiver deadline.
“Cam Thomas is eligible to sign with an NBA team, but cannot play in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. This is because Thomas was waived after the March 1 Playoff Eligibility Waiver deadline.”
Milwaukee Bucks guard Cam Thomas (24) during the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center.Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
(Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images)
Thomas came into the NBA as the 27th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Many touted him to have a very high ceiling given his scoring ability, finding ways to outscore stars like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving as a rookie while playing winning basketball alongside them.
When the Nets moved on from their stars, many expected Thomas to emerge as the team’s star, but his empty scoring stats never impressed the Nets coaching staff or teams around the NBA.
He had a contract standoff with the Nets in the summer, waiting until September to sign the qualifying offer with the franchise after no franchise showed interest in signing him, and the Nets chose not to give him a favorable extension.
The concerns around his archetype as an empty scorer with poor passing or defensive skills seem to have finally won, as Thomas will have to find a way to get another NBA opportunity to prove he belongs in the league.
The Bucks had made a big deal about signing Thomas to help them win, envisioning the guard as a Lou Williams coming off the bench. But with the Bucks not looking to compete for a Play-in Tournament spot anymore, Thomas was surplus to requirements and had to go.
Thomas could’ve been a good bench option on a team like the Clippers, but it seems like we’ll have to wait till the summer to see if his NBA dream will continue.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.