Tristan Thompson really needs to sign a new deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers already.
That, or he needs to sign his qualifying offer, play through the 2015-16 season, become an unrestricted free agent next summer and…join the Toronto Raptors.
The absence of an agreement with Cleveland has the speculation factory all aflutter. The Cavaliers and Thompson were once close to a deal, but then, presumably after the latter’s party realized the going rate for NBA players with two hands ahead of next year’s salary-cap boon, they didn’t. Now they’re stuck in this weird limbo, and Thompson, according to multiple, recycled reports, has threatened to sign his qualifying offer, which, also according to multiple recycled reports, would portend a decision to leave Cleveland in 2016.
If that happens, there’s at least one Eastern Conference general manager who believes Thompson, who was born in Canada, will bolt for the Raptors.
From Sheridan Hoops’ Michael Scotto:
There are rumblings that agent Rich Paul could deliver another client to his hometown team in the near future. Several league executives believe Canadian Tristan Thompson may head north to Toronto in the summer of 2016 if he signs his one-year, $6.8 million qualifying offer with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I always thought he was going to end up (in Toronto) this year,” one Eastern Conference general manager told SheridanHoops. “There’s going to be so much money next year so I think he will get it.”
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Paul also is the agent for Cory Joseph, another Canadian who signed a four-year, $30 million contract with the Raptors this summer. At 24, Joseph became the first Toronto-bred NBA player to sign with the team in the prime of his career.
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It’s also worth noting that Joseph and Thompson are friends who have played together during their AAU, high school and college days.
It’s only a matter of time before Andrew Wiggins is linked to this discussion.
If the Raptors have Tristan Thompson AND Cory Joseph, Andrew Wiggins will have to take notice. Right? And he can become a restricted free agent in 2018. Right? And, as a Canadian-born talent himself, he’ll consider signing with the Raptors. Right? Even if it means actually signing his qualifying offer and forcing his way off the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2019. Right?
Sarcastic rant over.
Any team with cap space next summer—so, every team—can make a legitimate push for Thompson. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that general manager Masai Ujiri would make a run at one of Canada’s own.
But Kevin Durant is also a free agent, and he will be the Raptors’ first priority, assuming they’re able to afford him. More than that, they don’t need Thompson. They’ve placed a priority on floor spacing this summer, picked up Bismack Biyombo and signed Jonas Valanciunas to an extension. Unless Thompson suddenly develops into a three-point-shooting power forward, or the Raptors look to cut ties with Valanciunas via trade later this year, there’s little point in bringing him into the fold.
Plus, there’s the whole “LeBron James has already publicly said the Cavaliers need to re-sign Thompson” thing.
Can’t forget about that, because it makes any and all rumors of Thompson’s departure, including this one, feel futile.
