標籤: ineligibility

On Monday night, the Milwaukee Bucks surprisingly waived Cam Thomas after Thomas had a falling out with the Brooklyn Nets following the trade deadline. The Bucks waived Thomas on March 23, meaning he is ineligible to play in the postseason because he was waived after the March 1 playoff eligibility waiver deadline.

Nonetheless, Thomas is free to sign with any NBA team, provided those teams register interest in him. At this point, Thomas’ stock is at its lowest, and it would be worrisome to other teams that the Bucks, a team that is hungry for talent, gave up on a player who at one time averaged 24 points per game.

But of course, just because Thomas didn’t live up to expectations in Milwaukee doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a future in the NBA now. All he has to do is land in a team with a solid infrastructure and some patient teaching that can allow him to become the best version of himself.

Thomas’ ability to score the basketball is evident, as his 3,822 career points in 257 games (88 starts) are nothing like trying to luck out. But he’s facing a crossroads in his career, and choosing his next team, if he even gets a choice, will be key in determining whether he can serve as a microwave scoring piece in the NBA and pick up where he left off during the 2023-24 season or whether he’s bound to spend a few years overseas.

Here are some teams that make some sense as potential destinations for Thomas.

4. Sacramento Kings

In terms of strict fit on the court, this is not a good destination for Thomas at all. The Kings still have a glut of guards, and the last thing they need is to further clog the roster and make their logjam at those positions worse. Furthermore, the Kings are already closely monitored, and integrating Thomas’ brand of basketball into a team that is already in disarray won’t be the easiest.

The Kings also have Malik Monk and DeMar DeRozan still active, and Thomas won’t be good enough to be guaranteed touches from those players.

But the Kings haven’t exactly focused on building a team that fits together, and perhaps they’ve become the latest team to look to Thomas to try to get his career back on track.

Sacramento can give him all the chances to score. Will this result in beautiful basketball? not even close. Would it be hilarious to see the Kings try this? Absolutely.

3. Philadelphia 76ers

The 76ers have been devastated by injuries at the end of the 2025-26 season and have led to their decline in the NBA standings. Somehow, they’re still in seventh place in the East, meaning they’re still a long way from making the playoffs even with Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid improving.

The good news is that Paul George is likely to return in the 76ers’ next game. The bad news is that it’s not clear exactly when Maxi will return. Another bad news is that Philly is missing a lot of Jared McCain, as their guard depth has been so depleted amid injuries that they’ve had to bring in Cameron Payne and play him heavy minutes.

Although Thomas can’t help the 76ers make one last attempt at the postseason, he can at least help them clinch the sixth seed in the conference. Philly is simply hungry for a shot-maker of Thomas’ level, and he would make VJ Edgecombe’s life a lot easier amid the team’s lack of offense.

2. Miami Heat

The Heat are in the midst of a tough five-game losing streak, and the last thing the team needs is to undergo a major change and bring in Thomas – another high-usage player. They are struggling to find balance at the moment, as they have had to bring 2026 NBA All-Star Norman Powell off the bench.

But the Heat culture is famous for developing untested players and turning them into winning contributors. He helped Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent and Caleb Martin, all of whom were part of their 2023 NBA Finals team, earn millions and millions of dollars when every other team in the NBA wasn’t sold on his ability to contribute.

What Thomas needs most is structure, and the Heat organization should help provide him with that.

Signing Thomas doesn’t mean he has to play anyway; Miami could simply bring him in, have him train with the team and acclimate to the team’s system, and get him ready for next season if they like what they see from the 24-year-old guard.

1. Indiana Pacers

With the departure of Benedict Mathurin via the Ivica Zubac trade, there could be an opportunity on the Pacers bench for a microwave scorer like Thomas. The problem is that Thomas is two inches shorter than Mathurin, and he is not even on the same level as the Los Angeles Clippers guard as a rebounder and defender.

But Thomas is a proven bucket-getter, and head coach Rick Carlisle has had success in the past with smaller guards who can score points in groups. Monta Ellis flourished under Carlisle. Trey Burke and Yogi Ferrell played some of their best basketball under Carlisle.

Thomas has not found any legitimate mentor for his career. The Nets quickly released him, as they did not want to give him a big contract last offseason. The Bucks gave their roster spot to Pete Nance, a wing who fits in with the team more easily.

Carlisle knows his way around Thomas’ playing style at guard, and Indiana, at least through the 2025-26 season, could give him a chance to prove if he can fit into what the team is building. The Pacers are under no pressure to win this season anyway, so they may simply hand the keys to Thomas as an audition to see if he’ll have a role on the team next season.