Houston Rockets Will Benefit from this Brooklyn Nets Loss

Cam Thomas, a restricted free agent guard for the Brooklyn Nets, has reportedly been offered a two-year, $14 million contract extension by the team. However, Thomas believes he deserves a higher salary, viewing himself as one of the NBA's elite playmaking scorers. This disagreement has led to speculation that Thomas may leave Brooklyn.

This situation holds significance for the Houston Rockets due to the James Harden trade in 2021. As part of that deal, Houston holds a 2027 first-round pick swap with Brooklyn. If Thomas departs and the Nets perform poorly, the Rockets could benefit significantly from this swap, potentially gaining a higher draft pick.

The Nets are entering another rebuild after a 26-56 season where they ranked among the Eastern Conference's bottom five teams. Losing Thomas, their leading scorer, could further weaken the team, potentially resulting in another losing season and worsening their draft position.

Conversely, the Rockets are expected to have a strong season and are unlikely to land a top-15 draft pick themselves. Therefore, if Brooklyn struggles, Houston could leverage the 2027 pick swap to acquire valuable assets or select a promising player in the draft, capitalizing on the Nets' potential decline.