The Milwaukee Bucks sent shockwaves through the NBA on Monday, March 23, 2026, by waiving guard Cam Thomas less than two months after signing him, marking the second time in as many months that the young scorer finds himself searching for a new home. The move, which comes with just 12 games remaining in the regular season, left many fans and analysts scratching their heads—especially given the high hopes Milwaukee’s front office and coaching staff had expressed about Thomas’ role in the team’s future.
Thomas’ journey to Milwaukee began after a tumultuous split from the Brooklyn Nets at the NBA trade deadline. The Nets, unable to find a trade partner for their former first-round pick, opted to waive him, ending a five-season tenure that saw flashes of brilliance but ultimately failed to yield a long-term partnership. The Bucks, eager to inject some scoring punch into their backcourt, quickly scooped up Thomas on February 8, 2026. General manager Jon Horst didn’t hide his excitement, touting Thomas as a key part of the team’s bid for the play-in tournament and a potential building block for the seasons ahead.
It didn’t take long for Thomas to make an impression. After a 13-minute debut in Orlando on February 11, he exploded for 34 points in his second game—a 116-108 win over the Magic. Head coach Doc Rivers was effusive in his praise, drawing bold comparisons to some of the league’s most electrifying sixth men. “I’ve had Jamal Crawford. I had Lou Williams. ... And now, I have Cam Thomas,” Rivers declared after the performance, according to The Athletic. The Bucks hoped Thomas’ knack for scoring would provide much-needed relief for Giannis Antetokounmpo and help shore up a roster that had struggled to find consistent offensive threats.
For a brief stretch, it seemed like Milwaukee had unearthed a hidden gem. Thomas scored in double figures in each of his next three games, and his confidence appeared sky-high. But as the weeks rolled on, the honeymoon period faded. Thomas’ scoring dipped, and his role diminished significantly. Over 18 games with the Bucks, he averaged 10.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in about 16 minutes per contest. While those numbers were respectable for a bench player, they fell short of the impact Milwaukee had envisioned when they brought him in as a potential difference-maker.
What went wrong? According to multiple reports and comments from the Bucks’ coaching staff, Thomas’ defensive limitations and his tendency to dominate the ball in isolation sets became sticking points. Doc Rivers, known for his preference for disciplined, two-way play, grew increasingly reluctant to rely on Thomas as the team’s playoff hopes faded. In a telling sequence during a March 14 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Thomas played just three minutes in the second quarter and was benched for the remainder of the game. He did not see the floor in the Bucks’ next two contests. When pressed about the decision, Rivers was diplomatic but firm: “There are things that we don’t need to talk about,” he told reporters. “That’s not anybody’s business. Like I said before, that’s where as a coach, you have to make decisions on what’s the best thing for the team at that time.”
The Bucks’ decision to waive Thomas was also influenced by roster management. With the team sitting at 29-41 and 11th in the Eastern Conference as of March 23, Milwaukee’s playoff odds were slim. The franchise opted to convert forward Pete Nance’s two-way contract into a standard NBA deal, freeing up a roster spot by releasing Thomas. “We ran out of bodies, and at the end of the day, there were guys you had to make a decision on,” Rivers said after the move. “I thought Cam was really good overall, and he may be somebody we revisit. Just where we’re at right now, you know, not really in the hunt as when we signed him, we thought it was the right thing to do for the rest of the guys right now.”
Thomas’ brief stint in Milwaukee was emblematic of his NBA journey thus far: tantalizing talent, fleeting opportunity, and persistent questions about fit. After being drafted 27th overall by the Nets in 2021, Thomas showed he could score with the best of them, notching multiple 40-point games and averaging 24 points as a starter last season. Yet, both Brooklyn and Milwaukee ultimately chose to move in different directions. Thomas himself didn’t mince words about his Brooklyn exit, telling The New York Post, “They didn’t believe. Always thought — I don’t know. They always thought something was better, I guess. I don’t know. Always chasing something.”
Despite the setbacks, Thomas’ scoring pedigree remains undeniable. He averaged 14.9 points per game over his five NBA seasons and put up more than 20 points per game as recently as last year. But as the Bucks’ experiment demonstrated, NBA teams increasingly demand more than just scoring from their guards—especially when it comes to defense, playmaking, and adaptability within team systems.
The timing of Thomas’ release adds another wrinkle to his career prospects. Because he was waived after March 1, he is ineligible to participate in the postseason with any new team that might sign him. That limitation could further complicate his search for a landing spot, as contending teams typically look for playoff-eligible reinforcements at this stage of the season. For now, Thomas will have to wait until the summer to explore his options—and perhaps convince a front office that his offensive gifts are worth another shot.
Meanwhile, the Bucks turn their attention to the future. Pete Nance, who has emerged as a bright spot in recent weeks, now has a standard NBA contract and will look to solidify his role heading into the offseason. Nance, who averaged 5.2 points on 56% shooting and 2.7 rebounds since February, expressed his excitement at the opportunity: “I think that’s the dream. ... Being able to take that step would be amazing. But it would just make me hungry for even more and shows me what I want and what I can think of and dream of is possible, so just keep pushing more.”
As for Milwaukee, the franchise faces a pivotal summer. With Giannis Antetokounmpo’s long-term future still uncertain and a decade-long playoff streak in jeopardy, major decisions loom. The Bucks’ willingness to make bold moves—even if it means cutting ties with recent acquisitions like Cam Thomas—signals a franchise in transition, searching for the right mix to reclaim its status as an NBA powerhouse.
For Cam Thomas, the latest twist in his career is another reminder of the unforgiving nature of professional basketball. He’s proven he can light up the scoreboard, but the next chapter will depend on his ability to round out his game—and convince a team that he can be more than just a scorer. Until then, the NBA world will be watching to see where the talented guard lands next.