The Cleveland Cavaliers and Tristan Thompson have been at a stalemate for awhile over the restricted free agents new contract. At the beginning of free agency, reports were out that the Cavs and Thompson had come to an agreement. Those were pretty quickly shot down and we have heard nothing about any progress towards and agreement.
There are a few issues that make this is a unique contract negotiation:
- Tristan is represented by LeBron James‘ agent.
- LeBron has made it clear that the Cavs should bring Thompson back.
- Tristan comes off the bench behind Kevin Love and Timofey Mozgov.
- Thompson has never even sniffed an All Star nod.
- Double T’s best skills (defense and rebounding) are not generally well compensated.
- Thompson is a Restricted Free Agent.
- The Cavs already spent a ton of money this off-season.
- The Cavs can offer more money than any other team.
- The salary cap is about to skyrocket.
- Only the Portland Trailblazers ($15) and the Philadelphia 76ers ($11) have enough cap space to offer Thompson a contract starting at over $10 million a year.
- The Cavs could and would match any offers Thompson gets.
- Thompson can take the Cavs 1 year, qualifying offer and become a Unrestricted Free Agent next season.
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All of those issues and you can see why Brian Windhorst of ESPN wrote about the “Curious Case of Tristan Thompson” this morning. Looking at the above list, it is easy to think the Cavs have a lot of leverage in the situation but Windy notes two reasons that Thompson could either sign the QO or holdout of camp:
"However, this may not be the case for Thompson, who has two things going for him that his restricted free agent brethren in the past did not. One is the expected $20 million leap in the salary cap next season that will also drag the maximum salary levels up with it. The other is the fact that more than 20 teams are projected to have cap space for a max-level free agent next summer, making it the best summer to be a free agent perhaps in the history of American professional sports."
And Windy is not wrong, not even close. The original reports said that Tristan and the Cavs agreed to a 5 year, $80 million deal. Draymond Green, a little more versatile player for the Golden State Warriors, signed for 5 years and $82 million.
A max deal for Thompson is right around $90 million for 5 years. No chump change but compared to what will be available next year on the market, the Cavs might be getting a steal at that price.
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The Cavs are in a very difficult position. At this moment, a max deal for Thompson seems a bit absurd. Fast forward to the start of Free Agency next year and Thompson could be looking at a 4 year deal worth over $100 million. With all the money available, and limited talent likely available, he will get paid.
The Cavs can either give TT the full max, or very close to it, now and pay him $18 million a year or risk losing him next year or paying him about $25 million a year.
Doesn’t seem that complicated to me but then again it isn’t my money, it is Dan Gilbert’s and it is a test of GM David Griffin’s evaluation of cost vs. talent. Thompson is not worth $18 million but to the Cavs he is priceless (especially because they couldn’t even come close to replacing him if he leaves next year).
Timofey Mozgov‘s situation next year will be very complicated, Tristan’s this year doesn’t seem so much.
In the end, we expect Thompson back with the Cavs long-term but it will be interesting who budges in these drawn out negotiations.
Do you think the Tristan Thompson contract stalemate is complicated or easy?