Cam Thomas’ defensive woes forced latest change in always-shifting Nets role

OKLAHOMA CITY — Is Cam Thomas one of the best young scorers in the NBA?

Or one of the biggest defensive liabilities in the league?

They’re not mutually exclusive.

Right now, he’s both.

And he’s also a backup, moved out of Brooklyn’s starting lineup to the bench.

“Just staying locked in. Just focusing on my craft, just knowing it could change so not getting complacent on being a starter all the time or be on the bench all the time,” Thomas said before scoring 20 points in a 124-108 loss to the Thunder on Sunday night. “I’ve just got to stay locked in, stay ready.

“You just never know, so you’ve just got to stay ready. Just don’t get down because obviously — I’m just going to call it how it is — everybody wants to start. At the end of the day, I want to start. But for what the team needs, I’ve got to come off the bench, whether it’s sixth or seventh man, come in and bring energy. So just not getting down, just staying positive and keep my energy high.”

Coach Jacque Vaughn has opted in favor of forward Dorian Finney-Smith.

Though Finney-Smith’s defense had worked well alongside Spencer Dinwiddie, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and Nic Claxton, that quartet was undersized with Thomas.

After Thomas moved into the starting lineup for Finney-Smith on Dec. 2 and stayed there through Wednesday, that unit was outscored by 66 points in 140 minutes over a dozen games.

No other quintet in the league was outscored by more than 34.

Their Net Rating of minus-29.4 was the worst of any unit that logged at least 35 minutes entering Sunday.

“We were negative offensively and defensively with that lineup. That started previously with Cam — and that’s not a reflection on Cam at all. It was a reflection of the group,” said Vaughn. “And that’s what I’m always trying to find, what’s the best for the team and what’s the best for the groups that are out there playing.

“I think you continue to see what works for our group, whether that’s different combinations out there. But surprisingly, we were negative offensively and defensively with that previous group.”

With Thomas starting, it forced Dinwiddie to have to guard power forwards.

Finney-Smith brings size, while the eventual return of Lonnie Walker IV will add length.

“He was saying he wanted more size out there,” Thomas said. “He told me he wanted to go with a little bit more size so we could put Doe on the fours and Spence on the guards because it’s tough on Spence to guard fours.

“So it was cool. I just know I have to come off the bench again, so I just got to excel in my role. If it changes next game, next month, whatever, I’ll be ready. But I’ve just got to excel in my role right now, help the team the best way I can.”

In his first two-plus seasons in the league, Thomas’ role has been ever-changing, from afterthought under Steve Nash to in and out of the rotation under Vaughn.

Asked if he was comfortable with his always-shifting role, Thomas said all the right things.

“Am I comfortable? At the end of the day, I’m just doing my job, man,” Thomas said with a shrug. “As a competitor, obviously you want to be out there steady. But I’m just part of the team. We’ve got a lot of guys who could contribute…at this point, so I’ve just got to accept it and excel in whatever role I’m in.”

For now, that role is offensive punch off the bench.

And it’s one he’s elite at, his 22.5 ppg average 28th in the league entering Sunday at OKC.

And at just $2.24 million — with Brooklyn having already picked up next season’s $4 million option — the only rookie contract players above him are Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Haliburton, Desmond Bane, Tyrese Maxey and Anthony Edwards.

But it’s the other end of the court that’s keeping him out of the lineup.

Thomas’ horrid 120.5 Defensive Rating is not only the worst of any Brooklyn regular, but 453rd out of 483 players listed on the league website.

And he’s backslid horribly since coming back from injury, from a passable 115.8 to an eye-watering 123.0, with only 17 players worse who had played double-figure games.