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Jamal Collier
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Jamal Collier
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- Jamal Collier is an NBA reporter for ESPN. Collier covers the Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls and the NBA’s Midwest region, including stories like Minnesota’s iconic jersey swap between Anthony Edwards and Justin Jefferson. He has been with ESPN since September 2021 and previously covered the Bulls for the Chicago Tribune. You can contact Jamal on Twitter @JamalCollier or via email Jamal.Collier@espn.com.
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free agent guard cam thomas has agreed to an agreement with milwaukee bucksHis agent, Tony Ronzon of Wasserman, told ESPN on Sunday.
The 24-year-old Thomas has averaged 21.4 points per game over the past three seasons and provides an immediate boost of talent to a Bucks team that is still trying to compete this season. giannis antetokounmpo.
In a somewhat surprising move, Thomas was waived by the Brooklyn Nets after the trade deadline last Thursday. After signing a one-year, $5.9 million qualifying offer in the summer, Thomas averaged 15.6 points and 3.1 assists for the Nets after missing the first 20 games due to a left hamstring strain.
Cam Thomas told Endscape, “I chose Milwaukee because they wanted me and they told me they’ve been interested in it for years. So, it’s cool to get this opportunity. And I’m just looking forward to meeting everybody, getting to know everybody, and contributing as soon as possible.”
Thomas has struggled shooting – 40% from the field and 33% from 3 – but his scoring ability will be a welcome addition for Milwaukee, which finds it difficult to find offense whenever Antetokounmpo is not on the floor. The Bucks have run an elite offense with Antetokounmpo on the court (averaging 123.2 points per 100 possessions), but his offense off the floor has been one of the worst in the NBA (109.5).
The team is without Antetokounmpo as he recovers from a right calf injury. The Bucks have won three games in a row for the first time all season, but are currently the 12th seed in the Eastern Conference, two games behind the Hornets at No. 10. Coach Doc Rivers reiterated before Friday’s game that the team has no plans to shut down Antetokounmpo for the rest of the season.
The Bucks listened to offers and talked with teams about a potential Antetokounmpo trade before Thursday’s deadline, but decided to retain the franchise star while looking for an upgrade on the roster. Team sources told ESPN they still believe they can salvage the Antetokounmpo era in Milwaukee and try to win a second championship with him.
Sources told ESPN that the Bucks held talks with Brooklyn about a potential deal for Thomas before the deadline, but a consensus was not reached.
Thomas averaged 24 points and 3.8 assists in 25 games, playing despite similar hamstring problems the previous season. But he and Brooklyn could not agree on a new deal during the offseason before Thomas accepted a qualifying offer. On January 23, Thomas was ejected from the game against the Celtics because he refused to take a shot as the clock ran out.
