There are more Tristan Thompson rumors but still no resolution. The Cleveland Cavaliers want to keep Thompson long-term but he wants a max contract and the Cavaliers don't want to give him one. At this point we know that Thompson is going to be in Cleveland this season the question is whether he will be in Cleveland for just this season. The new report is that talks between the two sides are not progressing and that Thompson is likely going to accept the qualifying offer, according to ESPN Cleveland.
This outcome has been the most likely all along as the two sides have not been budging in the negotiations but it gets closer to happening every day a long-term deal isn't reached. A long-term deal basically seems out of the realm of possibility at this point as the Cavaliers offered Thompson an extension worth $80 million which Thompson turned down.
Thompson turned down the $80 million offer because he is confident that as a free agent next summer he will be able to get a max contract somewhere else. There were already reports that the Toronto Raptors were interested in giving him a big deal next summer but now there are reports that three teams are willing to offer Thompson a maximum contract when he hits free agency, according to Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops.
If the Cavaliers were to give Thompson a maximum contract it wouldn't make much sense because Kevin Love just signed a five year deal which will relegate Thompson to a bench role. No matter how productive Thompson is, no bench player is worth that kind of money. Thompson will more than likely just take the $6.8 million qualifying offer and become a highly sought after free agent next summer and that would make everyone happy.
Yes the Cavaliers might miss Thompson after this season, especially if he is productive, assuming he leaves but Thompson will get the money he wants and the Cavaliers will save money in the future. The Cavaliers are gearing up for a run at the championship this season so having Thompson in 2015-16 is all that matters at this point.
