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Nets: Cam Thomas Summer League MVP another feather in Sean Marks’ cap

ByAdam Weinrib|
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 29: Cam Thomas poses for photos on the red carpet during the 2021 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on July 29, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 29: Cam Thomas poses for photos on the red carpet during the 2021 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on July 29, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)

The 27th overall pick is supposed to be a place for the league’s elite teams to choose a reinforcement at the margins. If you’re lacking size, maybe you select a wild card big man. If you’re defense-oriented, maybe a skittish guard with good instincts and no jumper could help you.

Typically, the 27th pick is a potential G Leaguer or an end-of-bench guy who you believe could eventually learn to be a contributor — especially when surrounded by the rest of your exceptional talent.

That’s the archetype, anyway.

Somehow, the rest of the NBA let the Brooklyn Nets add to their offensive riches, allowing electric scorer Cam Thomas to fall all the way to 27, giving Sean Marks a chance to put a gold capper on his pile of gold.

Why’d they let this happen? Who can say? Maybe they don’t hate “super teams” as much as they think they do?

In any case, the Brooklyn Nets officially selected the Summer League MVP, and we’re excited to find out just how dominant he can be when he’s operating alongside All-Stars instead of, well, G Leaguers and Euro Stashes.

The Brooklyn Nets stole Summer League MVP Cam Thomas in the 2021 Draft.

Oh, and did we mention that Brooklyn’s other pick, Day’Ron Sharpe, stood out in Vegas, too?

We mentioned it now.

Thomas was on another level during his August showcase, and the only slight shame in his summer run is that he had to share MVP honors with the more-hyped Davion Mitchell.

When Marks selected Thomas, draftniks already seemed perturbed that the rest of the league had allowed Brooklyn to get their hands on another pressure-cooker scorer who can contribute from all angles. Odds are, in 2021-22, the LSU sharpshooter will run with the second unit, absorbing some of Joe Harris’ long-range scoring prowess when the non-starters check in.

Sure, it’s easy to get fooled by a summer mirage. Sure, there are still many defensive strides Thomas needs to make.

Then again…he’s a perfect fit for a team that stockpiles scoring at every level.

The mid-first-round teams that teamed up to let Marks get his hands on the archetypical guard for Steve Nash’s fast-paced offense so late in the first round will likely be wringing their hands this time next year when they have to contain Thomas among so many others.

Don’t question it. Just celebrate it. Early indications are the Nets’ assembler of personnel has done it again.