Milwaukee Bucks Reportedly Eye Cam Thomas to Enhance Scoring, Could Trade Kyle Kuzma in Blockbuster Deal with Brooklyn Nets

The Milwaukee Bucks may be gearing up for a bold and strategic offseason move that could significantly reshape their roster and address one of their most glaring needs: perimeter scoring. According to multiple league insiders and NBA rumors circulating during the 2025 offseason, the Bucks have expressed interest in restricted free agent Cam Thomas of the Brooklyn Nets. As part of a potential high-stakes trade scenario, forward Kyle Kuzma could be sent to Brooklyn in exchange for the electric young scorer, in what would be a headline-grabbing move for both franchises.

For the Bucks, the 2024–25 NBA season ended in frustration. Despite the star-studded presence of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, Milwaukee fell short of its championship aspirations, once again hindered by inconsistent offensive production from its supporting cast and a lack of explosiveness on the wing. While Lillard brought elite shooting and playmaking, the team struggled to generate points when defenses keyed in on their stars. Adding a scorer like Cam Thomas, a player known for his microwave scoring ability, could be exactly what the Bucks need to revamp their offensive identity.

Cam Thomas, 23, is coming off a breakout campaign with the Brooklyn Nets in which he averaged over 20 points per game and frequently acted as the team’s primary scoring option. Though he’s listed at just 6-foot-3, Thomas plays with a fearless mentality and unshakable confidence. He possesses an elite ability to create his own shot off the dribble and has developed a reliable mid-range and three-point game. His willingness to take big shots and create space in tight situations has drawn comparisons to prolific scoring guards like Lou Williams and Jordan Clarkson, though with potentially an even higher ceiling.

The main hurdle for Milwaukee is that Thomas is a restricted free agent, meaning the Nets can match any offer he receives. However, the Bucks might be seeking a sign-and-trade scenario to circumvent cap restrictions and entice Brooklyn to part ways with their talented young guard. According to sources, one name that has surfaced as a possible trade chip in negotiations is Kyle Kuzma, the versatile forward who spent the 2024–25 season with the Washington Wizards before being traded midseason in a three-team deal that ultimately landed him with the Bucks.

Kuzma, 29, brings playoff experience, positional flexibility, and a reliable scoring touch of his own. While he has had an up-and-down NBA career, he remains a valuable commodity in today’s league, especially for teams like Brooklyn that are looking to rebuild around a young core with flexible contracts and veteran leadership. The Nets, who have been mired in a multi-season identity crisis since the departure of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, could see Kuzma as a stabilizing piece who can mentor younger players while still contributing at a high level.

From Milwaukee’s perspective, trading Kuzma may be a calculated risk worth taking. While he contributed solid minutes during the playoff run and had games where he flashed his scoring prowess, he often struggled to find his place in a system that already revolves around two ball-dominant stars in Giannis and Lillard. Cam Thomas, by contrast, is much more comfortable operating in limited space and can get buckets without requiring complex sets or prolonged touches. His skill set could complement Milwaukee’s stars perfectly, providing instant offense off the bench or in starting units when defenses focus too heavily on the main duo.

There are, of course, several questions that come with such a move. The biggest one may be defensive fit. Thomas has not yet developed into a strong defender, and the Bucks already sacrificed some of their defensive identity with the acquisition of Damian Lillard. Adding another smaller, offensively-oriented guard could further stress a unit that has traditionally prided itself on physicality and rim protection. However, if Milwaukee believes it can build a cohesive scheme around interior anchors like Brook Lopez and Giannis, the tradeoff might be worth it. Offense wins games — especially in today’s NBA — and few young players can get hot the way Cam Thomas can.

The financial implications of such a deal also loom large. The Bucks are already facing a tight cap situation, and absorbing Thomas’s new contract (which could be in the range of $20–25 million annually) will require precise maneuvering. Kuzma’s current deal is structured in a way that could help match salary in a sign-and-trade, but other assets — such as draft picks or young players like MarJon Beauchamp — might be required to make the numbers and value align. If Milwaukee truly wants Thomas, they may need to overpay in draft capital or involve a third team to smooth out the finer points of the exchange.

From Brooklyn’s standpoint, letting go of Cam Thomas would be a bittersweet decision. On one hand, he has quickly become a fan favorite at Barclays Center and one of the few exciting pieces on a roster that has otherwise struggled to maintain continuity. On the other hand, the Nets have been reluctant to fully commit to Thomas as a long-term cornerstone, largely due to his defensive limitations and the redundancy he creates alongside other ball-heavy guards like Dennis Schröder or Ben Simmons (if healthy). Bringing in a player like Kuzma could help balance the roster while allowing the Nets to pivot in a different direction without giving up an asset for nothing.

It’s also worth considering the psychology of such a trade. For the Bucks, it signals urgency. With Giannis still in his prime but the championship window possibly narrowing, Milwaukee must make every year count. Adding a pure scorer like Thomas could give them a spark they desperately need to get over the hump. For Brooklyn, it represents pragmatism — recognizing that while Thomas is exciting, he may not be the long-term answer on a team still searching for an identity. Kuzma provides them a piece that fits both now and in future roster reshuffles.

Cam Thomas has also shown an eagerness to embrace a bigger role and a hunger to prove his worth in a league that sometimes undervalues pure scorers who don’t conform to traditional point guard archetypes. Playing alongside Lillard and Giannis could help unlock a new level of efficiency for Thomas, reducing his burden to carry offensive possessions and allowing him to thrive in a more structured system. That kind of environment could be exactly what he needs to mature into an All-Star caliber contributor.

Ultimately, whether or not the Bucks can secure Thomas depends on several moving parts — the willingness of Brooklyn to part with their restricted free agent, Milwaukee’s flexibility in matching salary and trade value, and the broader dynamics of the free agency market. If the Nets receive a lucrative offer sheet for Thomas and feel unsure about committing to a long-term deal, a trade involving Kuzma might emerge as the best solution for all parties.

For now, both teams appear to be weighing their options. Free agency is always a game of leverage, timing, and negotiation. But with training camps on the horizon and teams finalizing their rosters, decisions will need to be made soon. If the Bucks can pull off a deal for Cam Thomas, it could become one of the most talked-about moves of the summer — not only because of the talent involved but because of what it signals: Milwaukee is going all-in, again, and betting that firepower on the perimeter is the missing ingredient in their championship formula.

As the Bucks front office deliberates, fans will watch closely. Is Cam Thomas the scorer who can elevate Milwaukee to the top tier of NBA contenders again? Or is this a high-risk gamble that could disrupt team chemistry and further stretch an aging core? The answer will become clearer in the weeks ahead. But one thing is certain: if this trade happens, the Eastern Conference landscape will shift dramatically.