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Jamal Collier
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Jamal Collier
ESPN
- Jamal Collier is an NBA reporter at ESPN. Collier covers the Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls and the Midwest region of the NBA, including stories such as Minnesota’s iconic jersey swap between Anthony Edwards and Justin Jefferson. He has been at ESPN since Sept. 2021 and previously covered the Bulls for the Chicago Tribune. You can reach out to Jamal on Twitter @JamalCollier or via email Jamal.Collier@espn.com.
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Free agent guard Cam Thomas has agreed to a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, his agent, Tony Ronzone of Wasserman, told ESPN on Sunday.
Thomas, 24, has averaged 21.4 points per game over the past three seasons and provides an immediate talent boost to a Bucks team still trying to contend this season with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Thomas was waived by the Brooklyn Nets after the trade deadline last Thursday in a somewhat surprising move. After signing a one-year, $5.9 million qualifying offer over the summer, Thomas averaged 15.6 points and 3.1 assists for the Nets after missing the first 20 games because of a left hamstring strain.
“I picked Milwaukee because they wanted me and they told me they’ve been interested for years now. So, it’s good to have this opportunity come to fruition. And I’m just hoping to meet everybody, get to know everybody and contribute as soon as possible,” Cam Thomas told Andscape.
Thomas has struggled shooting — hitting 40% from the field and 33% from 3 — but his scoring ability will be a welcome addition for Milwaukee, which has found it hard to find offense whenever Antetokounmpo isn’t on the floor. The Bucks have had an elite offense with Antetokounmpo (averaging 123.2 points per 100 possessions) on the court but have been one of the worst (109.5) in the NBA with him off the floor.
The team is without Antetokounmpo as he recovers from a right calf strain. 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 Antetokounmpo down for the rest of the season.
The Bucks listened to offers and engaged with teams about a potential Antetokounmpo trade before Thursday’s deadline but decided to hold on to the franchise star while searching for upgrades to 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.
The Bucks engaged with Brooklyn about a potential deal for Thomas before the deadline but couldn’t find common ground, sources told ESPN.
Thomas averaged 24 points and 3.8 assists in 25 games last season while playing through similar hamstring issues. But he and Brooklyn could not agree to a new deal during the offseason before Thomas accepted the qualifying offer. On Jan. 23, Thomas was pulled from a game against the Celtics for refusing to shoot when the clock was running down.