Cameron Johnson wants to earn $30 million a year in restricted free agency, although the numbers don’t back up his demands.
As the NBA offseason carries on, notable restricted free agents like Jonathan Kuminga, Josh Giddey, and Quentin Grimes have all received only the qualifying offer from their teams, and a sign-and-trade involving any of those youngsters would not be shocking.
Of all of the restricted free agents, Cam Thomas is by far the best scorer. Last season on the Brooklyn Nets, he posted 24 points on 34.9% shooting from deep and 43.8% from the floor.
Thomas has been offered the $5.9 million qualifying offer by the Nets, but all signs point to him wanting roughly $30 million a season. It’s up to Brooklyn to determine if he is worth it.
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty ImagesCam Thomas can score, but that’s it
Last season, only 25 players averaged 24 or more points. Clearly, Thomas is an elite scorer, and he insists that he is one of the very best players in the league.
The consenus? F*** you and the consensus @ZachLowe_NBA . This is most likely the same consensus teams who can’t guard me and send double teams from jump ball . Why are we double teaming a guy who’s “not that good” make it make sense please. https://t.co/IrHNVHYqTc
— Cam Thomas (@24_camthomas) July 18, 2025
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However, there is a reason why the Nets lost 56 games last season: they were inefficient, played poor defense, and did not move the ball. Thomas was a massive reason for the limited success Brooklyn had, but the shortcomings of the team were also his fault.
“Of the guys that averaged 24 points or more last year, there are 25 of them,” outlined Bryce Simon.
“He was 22nd in field goal percentage. He was 23rd in rebounds. He was 22nd in assists. He was dead last in steals and dead last in blocks. I think that’s just a very simplified version of what you just said, but it’s like, what else are you providing?”
While Thomas’ scoring numbers are similar to Donovan Mitchell, LeBron James, and Victor Wembanyama, he doesn’t have the multi-dimensional skillset or intangibles that made all of those players runaway All-Stars last season.
“He is a disgusting scorer, he is an unbelievable scorer of the basketball,” praised Sam Vecenie, before turning sour.
“He can’t just be a scorer and that’s it. It doesn’t work in the NBA anymore. It just doesn’t.”
Thomas is asking for roughly $30 million per season, the same amount as Tyler Herro, Dejounte Murray, and Jalen Johnson. However, those players bring more to the table than just scoring.
Thomas won’t get what he wants this offseason
Thomas, like Kuminga, is expected to remain with his current team. With the qualifying offer, he will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, and there is reason to believe that he will have proven his worth by then, inking his name to a big contract.
While the Nets might be smart to sign him to a long-term deal now, while he is still affordable, Brooklyn really has no reason to rush.
Next summer, the Nets are expected to have $19.9 million in cap space, by far the most in the league. Even if Thomas becomes disgruntled in Brooklyn, the Nets can add enough to his next contract to quickly bury the hatchet.
While Thomas would prefer to make more money starting now, the Nets have no reason to rush, and the franchise that calls the shots has the luxury of remaining patient.