Following a breakout marketing campaign because the main scorer for the Brooklyn Nets, Cam Thomas can have a bigger function this upcoming season. 

After the Nets confronted the Los Angeles Clippers on the Thomas & Mack Heart throughout the NBA Summer season League in Las Vegas, Thomas spoke with HoopsHype in regards to the fallout from the Mikal Bridges commerce, his extension talks, the return of Ben Simmons, the adjustment with new coach Jordi Fernandez, the re-signing of Nic Claxton, and extra. 

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Cam Thomas: Sustaining what I did final 12 months however rising it extra. I wish to go into extra of a management function. I’ve been on the workforce the second-longest behind Nic Claxton. I’m going into my fourth 12 months, and he simply completed 5 years. Extra of that management function attempting to steer the fellows.

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CT: It’s been good. He’s very good. He’s very detailed. I believe he’ll be good for our younger workforce. I believe we’re going the younger route, in order that’ll be good for us as a result of he’s all in regards to the particulars and pushes us to be nice. I can’t wait to really get to work with him.

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CT: Having extra alternative to play with the ball in my hand and showcasing that I can try this. Most individuals noticed the second half of the 12 months that I used to be a very totally different participant with my playmaking, rebounding, and defending. I’m attempting to keep up that all through the entire 12 months as a result of I’ll have the chance to do this and have that stability all through the entire 12 months. It’ll be good.

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CT: Displaying I may do that actually helped me and confirmed that I’m greater than only a scorer. I really feel like going into that function to start out the 12 months can be significantly better as a result of I can try this for an entire season.

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CT: You positively give it some thought, but it surely’s not one thing I’m pushing for. No matter occurs with the group occurs. I can’t management that. The one factor I can management goes on the market and taking part in the very best basketball I can play. No matter occurs will occur. I’m not likely pressed on it. No matter occurs will occur. You by no means know what may occur. As of proper now, I’m not likely pressed on it. I wish to maintain enhancing my recreation to prepare for subsequent season.

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CT: I believe lots of people noticed what Noah may deliver final 12 months in direction of the top of the 12 months along with his defending, being a lob risk, making an open three if we kick it to him. I believe Dariq continues to be attempting to determine his footing out within the league. It’s been some time since he’s performed. He’s been damage rather a lot. He has time. He’s actually younger. The potential is there. With Jalen Wilson, everybody noticed him crashing the glass, bringing vitality, and he can knock down an open three once you kick it to him. He’s an excellent utility man. He may positively assist us for certain.

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CT: It’s good. It offers us stability as a workforce. We’ve principally obtained the identical workforce, simply with out Mikal (Bridges), and we added three gamers. It’s good to have that continuity and that stability as a result of the previous couple of years, I’ve had a unique workforce each single 12 months. It’s loopy.

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CT: We’re not going to deal with this as a rebuild as folks say we’re doing. We’re going to go on the market and compete and attempt to win each recreation. If we lose, we lose. We’re not going to throw video games. We’re going to compete arduous. It’s going to be entertaining and thrilling with good, younger Nets basketball. I can’t wait to see it.

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CT: I wouldn’t say it’s motivating. I’d say it’s simply extra that we’ve obtained to show it on the finish of the day. I don’t suppose anyone within the locker room goes to lose each recreation. In the event that they do, that’s a giant downside. The best way I’m constructed, I am going on the market to win each recreation. Groups have gotten to beat us. We’re not going to roll over and simply let groups beat us by 30 as a result of we’re younger. We performed lots of shut video games final 12 months, particularly in direction of the top of the 12 months once we performed lots of good groups.

The workforce now we have now as we stand is principally the identical workforce. Cam Johnson. Me. Dorian Finney-Smith. Nic Claxton. Ben Simmons. Dennis Schroder.

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CT: I rely on it yearly he’s on the workforce. I’m anticipating him to be wholesome and be able to play. I’m not going into yearly saying he’s not going to play. By no means. He’s on the workforce, and I believe he’s going to be wholesome to play to start out the 12 months off. No matter occurs throughout the 12 months occurs. To start out the 12 months off, I really feel like he’s going to be able to play.

You’ll be able to observe Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) on X, previously often called Twitter.