ATLANTA — Cam Thomas spent Monday watching Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Scottie Barnes and Franz Wagner all land maximum $224 million rookie extensions.
Many of his other 2021 draft classmates got nine-figure deals as well.
Despite being Brooklyn’s leading scorer last season, Thomas wasn’t given an extension from the Nets, as The Post has reported.
But the guard insists his attention isn’t on becoming a restricted free agent at the end of the season, but getting a win in Atlanta to start it.
“Just getting ready to play the Atlanta Hawks [on Wednesday]. So, that’s all I’m focused on,” Thomas said. “I don’t really care about all the extra stuff. Just worried about trying to get a win on Wednesday.”
Thomas, Day’Ron Sharpe and Ziaire Williams had all been eligible for rookie extensions but none got one. The outcome was expected, predictable enough that coach Jordi Fernandez didn’t feel the need to talk to Thomas on the matter.
“Yeah, conversations have been great. I think he’s in a good place, and I didn’t see anything that I should go and talk to him about it, the way he feels,” Fernandez said. “I think he’s been great. He’s done his job, and we have a clear path and direction for what we’re trying to do.”
Thomas had a tough night in his last trip to Atlanta, on Dec. 6 last season. He went in averaging a stellar 26.1 points but was held to just six points on 3-for-10 shooting with five turnovers and just one assist. It had been just his third game back from a sprained ankle, and Thomas didn’t expect the defensive attention he got that night from the Hawks. He was still a part-time starter and the Nets hadn’t drilled for those blitzes.
But with Mikal Bridges gone and Thomas the unquestioned focal point of the offense, he’ll be at the top of every scouting report against the Nets.
“[The lesson was] just that they would blitz me. I didn’t know they would blitz me coming back from injury. We never really worked on that, never repped it as a team back then,” Thomas said. “But now, I’m more prepared, just kind of expecting it. So, it should be a much better outcome for me and the team.”
the 76ers. NBAE via Getty Images
Starting center Nic Claxton is expected to be available Wednesday, after having missed all four preseason games.
The only Nets expected to miss the season opener are Sharpe (hamstring), Trendon Watford (hamstring) and Bojan Bogdanovic (surgery recovery).
Hawks star Trae Young averaged 36.5 points in two games against the Nets last season, his second-highest against any team besides the Spurs.
“He’s the head of the snake,” Fernandez said. “He’s a very, very good player, so he deserves all that respect. … At the end of the day, we’re going to do what we do: ball pressure, physicality, and we’re going to show it from the first minute.”