Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Tristan Thompson. (Photo : Reuters)
Tristan Thompson is reportedly on the verge of signing a one-year, $6.9 million qualifying offer from the Cleveland Cavaliers, which will automatically make him an unrestricted free agent next summer. Rumors abound that this could lead him to move up north to Toronto with the Raptors.
The 24-year-old Toronto native had long been enamored to play for his hometown squad but the opportunity to win championships alongside LeBron James made the 2011 fourth overall draft pick stick with the Cavs in all his years as a pro.
After his remarkable performance in the recent NBA Finals when an injury-plagued Cleveland team was defeated by eventual champions Golden State Warriors, 4-2, Thompson, through his agent Rich Paul, had demanded a max contract worth $53 million for three years or $94 million for five years, as reported by ESPN.
The Cavs are not keen on granting him his request, though, as the team is already way above the salary threshold and Dan Gilbert's luxury tax bill is through the roof even before the bid was made with max contracts given to James and Kevin Love.
Cleveland offered as much as $16 million in average yearly salary, but the 2012 NBA All-Rookie second-teamer did not accept it.
What the Cavs are "willing" to offer now besides the qualifying offer is a five-year, $80 million deal that could be negotiated for an increase, although it is still unknown up to how much, as per the Northeast Ohio Media Group.
Thompson can choose between accepting the long-term deal, in which he would be stuck with the Cavs for the next five years, or the significantly less one-year qualifying offer and be an unrestricted free agent next year where the salary caps are expected to boom.
If he accepts the qualifying offer, then he should play well but be careful of not suffering any unfortunate injury to increase his value in the summer of 2016. This predicament may greatly affect his performance with the Cavs this season.
However, recent rumors emerged that the Cavs may actually end up trading Thompson once he signs the qualifying offer as Paul "threatened" the organization that his client will surely leave Cleveland when that happens.
Trading Thompson this early is more beneficial for the Cavs instead of just letting him walk away next summer.
