Inefficiency, a poor roster fit in Brooklyn, and non-existent trade value put Cam Thomas on the buyout market after the deadline passed. The Milwaukee Bucks snapped him up to fill the open roster spot created by waiving Nigel Hayes-Davis. Essentially, they added Thomas for nothing.

That low-risk swing on upside has already paid off: Thomas poured in a team-high 34 points in Milwaukee’s road win over the Magic, looking every bit the born bucket-getter he’s known to be. It’s just one game, but it should have the rest of the league asking how the Bucks were able to snatch an elite scorer off the free rack. 

Bucks’ bargain bin gamble just paid off in spades

Leading up to the deadline, the Bucks were the only team rumored to be pursuing Thomas as a trade target. Giving up assets to get him didn’t make much sense; compensating the Bucks for taking on his remaining salary wouldn’t benefit the Nets. Ultimately talks fell through and Brooklyn waived him the day of the deadline. Milwaukee wasted no time pouncing once he cleared waivers. 

The cost: waiving Hayes-Davis and giving Thomas a rest-of-season minimum deal that carries a cap hit of just $844,607. 

The ex-Nets guard paid off the investment immediately against the Magic, stepping up with Ryan Rollins out (plantar fasciitis) to single-handedly carry the offense. What’s more, Thomas’ electric night came on excellent efficiency: 12-for-20 from the field, 4-for-6 on threes, and 6-of-6 at the free-throw stripe. 

His 34 points were the most of any Buck this season not named Giannis Antetokounmpo. It almost seems like a misprint, but Thomas needed just 25 bench minutes to do so.

There are, of course, considerable flaws in his game. He devotes his energy to offense, not defense, and isn’t much of a passer (two assists and three turnovers against Orlando). There will be reality-check nights where Thomas shoots 2-10 and doesn’t give the team much of anything. For the upside he brings, though, at the price the Bucks paid to get him, he looks like an absolute steal. 

How that appraisal ages will depend on whether Thomas plays more like the version of himself on display Wednesday night and in seasons past, or if he regresses to the negative asset he was in Brooklyn this year. After averaging 22.9 points per game from 2023-24 to ’24-25, he dipped to 15.6 points per game on 39.9 percent shooting in ’25-26.

Lights-out efficiency has never been his forte, but the Bucks would love to see him just match his 44/36/86 splits from the two prior seasons.  

In any case, even if he flames out, it’s already a better move than any number of reckless trades the front office could have pulled.

If Thomas cooks up microwave outings like the last one on just an occasional basis, it’s safe to say they will get far more than they paid for.Â