NBA Free-Agency Rumors (Photo : REUTERS)
In the wake of Rich Paul's comment about Tristan Thompson leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers if he signs a one-year qualifying offer, the Toronto Raptors, already viewed as frontrunners to acquire the Canadian-born power forward once he hits the free-agency market, have never been this close to getting their man.
It looks like the longer this negotiation between Thompson and the Cavaliers get, the better it would be for the Raptors, who are no doubt monitoring this situation very closely.
General manager Masai Ujiri has been a big proponent of signing Canadian-born NBA players, let alone a native from Toronto. This offseason, the Raptors landed their first Canadian baller after signing point guard Cory Joseph to a 4-year, $30 million deal.
Thompson, who played with Joseph during their time in Texas and with the Canadian national team, will become the Raptors' primary target if he ever becomes available in the free-agency pool next summer.
According to ESPN report of Brian Windhorst, Thompson's contract impasse with the Cavaliers dragged this far because of the player's asking price worth $94 million over five years. The Cavaliers are trying to lower their luxury tax bill, while the Raptors will all have the resources to offer Thompson that amount of money because of the salary cap explosion projected to happen a year from now.
But there's a possibility the Raptors might not wait that long to have their hands on the big man. Thompson has never been this much of a flight risk following Paul's comments of his impending departure once he signs a qualifying offer worth of $6.8 million.
It's less likely the Cavaliers will allow Thompson to walk away without getting a solid haul in return. Perhaps, if things continue to get ugly between the parties, the Cavaliers might eventually send Thompson north of the border in exchange for the Raptors' young players, including Terrence Ross, Patrick Peterson or perhaps Lithuanian big man Jonas Valanciunas, who will become a restricted free-agent next summer.
