Cleveland Cavaliers’ Tristan Thompson, front, from Canada, drives past Oklahoma City Thunder’s Serge Ibaka (9), from Congo, during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2014, in Cleveland.
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The Cavs and Tristan Thompson are not close to a new deal with training camp opening a week from today. Earlier this summer, Thompson’s agent Rich Paul said that if Thompson signs his qualifying offer, this will be his last season as a Cavalier. Thompson may sign a one-year qualifying offer for $6.9 million and enter unrestricted free agency next summer if a deal is not reached by the end of the week.
The two sides remain $14 million apart in contract talks, sources told ESPN.com on Monday. If Thompson has another strong year, he’ll look like a genius for gambling on his future with a one-year deal.
When Eric Bledsoe was a restricted free agent last summer, James urged the Phoenix Suns to make a deal via social media.
However, taking a one-year deal would be an enormous gamble for Thompson. Thompson, 24, has been holding out all summer for a max extension at five years and $94 million, but the Cavaliers reportedly are holding firm at an offer of five years, $80 million. General Manager David Griffin has been able to resign LeBron James, Kevin Love, Timofey Mozgov, J.R. Smith, Matthew Dellavedova, James Jones and Iman Shumpert. Pushing a young, talented, durable big man like Thompson out the window doesn’t bode well for the future.
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Thompson’s agent is Rich Paul, who also represents New Orleans Pelicans guard Norris Cole. The Cavs may be unwilling to budge due to the tax ramifications of signing Thompson to a max deal.
