NBA Futures: Can Nets' Cam Thomas Win Most Improved Player?

With the season in full swing, there has already been a lot of move in the NBA futures market. With the volume of possible bets, from win totals to awards and player stats, the market can be a little overwhelming. That's why I've done the work for you in scoping out a few plays that I think provide quite a bit of value at this point of the season.

The NBA awards market is always fun to look at and right now it presents a lot of value on a few players that are further down the board. Brooklyn point guard Cam Thomas is a player that I have my eye on right now because of the stats he's putting up this year, and the price we're able to get him at.

Scroll down to see why I think Thomas is a great value play for this award.

Nets' Cam Thomas to Win MIP (+2000, DraftKings)

Tyrese Maxey is the odds-on leader in the market at -115. He's had an unbelievable start to the season, averaging 27.0 points, 6.7 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game. If he's able to keep his numbers at or around where they currently are, it's going to be hard for any other player to pass him. However, the market is asking us to pay a premium for Maxey right now, which is exactly when I want to pivot and look at other players. For as good as the Sixers' PG has been this season, his numbers are bound to ebb and flow and different points of the season, allowing other players to close the gap.

With the value on Maxey limited, the value on Cam Thomas at 20-1 looks extra enticing. Thomas just returned from a lengthy absence due to injury and picked up right where he left off with 26 points on 52.4% shooting against the Hornets on November, 30. Because he missed quite a few games throughout the month, his odds went from around +800 to 20-1. But now that he's back, those odds are likely to drop, making this the perfect time to get him at a discounted price.

On the season, Thomas is averaging 26.8 points on 48.4% from the field. His assist (2.0) and rebound numbers (3.6) aren't quite as good as Maxey's, but this isn't the MVP award, it's the Most Improved, meaning we have to look at what these players did last year and how far their game as progressed this season.

Thomas averaged 10.6 points on 44.1%, 1.4 assists and 1.7 rebounds. A 16-point jump in scoring is a drastic improvement year over year. We can't say the same for Maxey, who is averaging seven more points this season and has a worse field goal and 3-point percentage than last year.

Another reason I think there is value on Thomas at this price is because of where the Nets offense is right now. It's a top-10 unit, which has a lot to do with Thomas' ability to put points on the board. He has four games of 30+ points and is Brooklyn's leading scorer, surpassing Mikal Bridges this season.

Philly's offense is No. 2 in the league and Maxey is its second-leading scorer behind Joel Embiid. That's impressive, but wasn't that expected? It would be a big surprise, and quite frankly a massive disappointment, if Maxey wasn't performing at this level. Whereas the type of numbers, the production and the value that Thomas is bringing to Brooklyn this season feels far more deserving of the award for Most Improved Player. And at 20-1 on DK, we're getting a great price!