Thomas declined richer Nets proposals, including a two-year $30 million offer with a team option and a one-year $9.5 million deal with incentives that required waiving his no-trade rights. By taking the qualifying offer, he preserves a full no-trade clause for 2025–26 and positions himself for unrestricted free agency next summer, with any in-season deal needing his approval. Reporting indicates Brooklyn is unlikely to feature Thomas heavily this season as the team leans into a rebuild and his future with the franchise remains uncertain. Team direction and roster moves point to a stylistic shift toward quick decisions and multipositional size, raising fit questions for the undersized, score-first guard. Injury and availability concerns—highlighted by 73 missed games over two seasons—were cited as a key factor in the Nets’ reluctance to commit long term despite his 24.0 points per game last season.
