Nets Waive Cam Thomas; Mavericks Acquire Tyus Jones; Bulls Pick Up Nick Richards in Expanded Trade
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NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets have released fifth-year guard Cam Thomas after failing to find a trade partner before Thursday’s deadline, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Thomas, 22, must clear waivers before becoming an unrestricted free agent. Because he accepted his qualifying offer last summer, he held de facto veto power over any deal, limiting Brooklyn’s options. The guard did not travel with the team to Orlando and was listed out for “personal reasons” prior to today’s move.
Cleveland and Milwaukee expressed mild interest, but no agreement materialized. Thomas and his representatives had signaled they preferred a release if no trade arose. “Super excited, ready to actually help and contribute to another team,” he told Andscape’s Marc J. Spears.
When healthy, Thomas has averaged double-digit scoring, though injuries restricted him to 25 games last season and 24 so far this year. He is not under contract beyond 2023-24.
Mavericks Land Tyus Jones
DALLAS — The Mavericks have acquired point guard Tyus Jones from the Charlotte Hornets, league sources told Charania. Charlotte had obtained Jones from Orlando earlier in the week.
In exchange, the Hornets receive guard Malaki Branham and create a $7 million trade exception. No draft picks change hands, The Athletic’s Christian Clark reported.
Dallas pursued Jones in free agency last summer but was unable to match the Magic’s $7 million offer, per The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer. The Mavericks instead added D’Angelo Russell, who was later shipped to Washington in the Anthony Davis deal.
Jones struggled from the field in Orlando yet remains one of the NBA’s most dependable ballhandlers. With Kyrie Irving sidelined, the 27-year-old is expected to step into significant minutes immediately. Branham, 21, is on an expiring $5 million contract after seeing his role shrink in San Antonio.
Bulls Add Center Nick Richards
CHICAGO — The Bulls have joined a previously reported Bucks–Suns trade, rerouting center Nick Richards to Chicago and sending forward Ousmane Dieng to Milwaukee.
Richards could log increased playing time following Chicago’s move of Nikola Vučević earlier in the week. The original deal sent Phoenix guards Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey while moving Richards and forward Nigel Hayes-Davis out of the Valley.
For the Suns, the revision is largely financial. Cap analyst Yossi Gozlan noted Phoenix drops roughly $2.5 million below the luxury-tax line and generates a $5 million trade exception. John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 added that the maneuver frees a roster slot to convert two-way guard Jamaree Bouyea.
Hayes-Davis is viewed as a likely release candidate.
Source: Hoops Wire
