Even after a relatively quiet trade deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers remain at the center of the NBA rumor mill. The latest social media storm falsely claims the franchise has already made its next move, with viral posts declaring that former Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas has signed a two-year deal in Los Angeles. Despite the buzz, no such agreement exists.

The misleading report gained traction after the Facebook page Basketball Rush posted, “🚨BREAKING: The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly signed Cam Thomas to a two-year deal.” While the claim spread quickly online, it has no basis in reality, raising questions about how the rumor took off in the first place.

What is true, however, is that the Lakers are exploring ways to upgrade their roster. Before Thursday’s deadline, Los Angeles sent Gabe Vincent and a second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for sharpshooter Luke Kennard. With that deal complete, league insiders, including Dan Woike of The Athletic, report that Rob Pelinka and the front office have turned their attention toward the buyout market in search of additional reinforcements.

“Next will be evaluating a group of buyout candidates. Team and league sources say wing Haywood Highsmith is a player of interest, provided his knee issues are resolved,” Woike reported. “Cam Thomas, his former Nets teammate, is another more polarizing option.”

News served to you like never before!

Prefer us on Google, To get latest news on feed

Prefer Us on Google

Meanwhile, the Nets waived Cam Thomas, thus ending his five-year stint with the organization. On the other hand, Haywood Highsmith met with the same fate as a part of the deal to bring Ochai Agbaji to the Raptors. While his career numbers show a capable scorer (15.6 PPG), his production spiked across the last two seasons to nearly 23 points per game, demonstrating an elite scoring ceiling that comes with notable drawbacks

Moreover, the 24-year-old spent roughly six weeks sidelined due to a left hamstring injury between November 7 and December 23. On returning, the team continued to carefully manage his playing time under a minutes cap.

At the same time, across the last two seasons, Cam Thomas delivered elite scoring production, posting 22.9 points while converting 44.1% overall and 35.9% from three. However, a left hamstring strain ended his campaign, restricting him to 25 appearances last season.

Now, hypothetically, say that the Lakers pick Cam Thomas, then what does he bring to the table?

What value does Cam Thomas add to the Lakers’ roster?

At 24, Cam Thomas has become one of the NBA’s most polarizing young scorers. The former LSU guard has delivered numerous explosive performances during his four-plus seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, including nine games of 40 points or more. His ability to create shots at all three levels makes him a constant offensive threat and one of the league’s most naturally gifted bucket-getters.

Yet despite his scoring talent, Thomas has struggled to generate widespread interest across the league. In Brooklyn, he averaged 15.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, reinforcing his reputation as a pure scorer rather than a complete guard. His limited playmaking ability, inconsistent defense, and recurring injuries have prevented him from carving out a larger role.

As New York Post reporter Brian Lewis bluntly summarized, “Thomas’ poor playmaking, worse defense, and injury history combined to end his time with the Nets.” The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov echoed that sentiment, noting that Thomas “has always been a divisive player among opposing scouts and league executives.”

Last offseason, Thomas accepted a $5.9 million qualifying offer in hopes of boosting his long-term value, but the gamble failed to spark meaningful trade interest. Advanced numbers also painted a complicated picture: Brooklyn posted a 4–19 record in games where he logged significant minutes, compared to 9–17 when he did not.

While those figures don’t fall entirely on Thomas, they highlight the difficulty teams have had building consistent lineups around his high-usage, offense-first style.

Still, his scoring ability remains undeniable, and that’s where the Los Angeles Lakers enter the conversation. LA’s bench currently produces just 28.0 points per game, the lowest mark in the league, leaving a clear need for instant offense.

Although recent rumors of a two-year deal between the Lakers and Thomas proved to be false, the concept makes sense on paper. For a team desperate for shot creation beyond its stars, Thomas represents a flawed but intriguing option.

He may never be an ideal two-way contributor, but in the right role, Cam Thomas could help solve one of Los Angeles’ biggest weaknesses. If the Lakers are serious about addressing their scoring struggles, taking a calculated chance on the ex-Nets guard might not be such a bad idea after all.