Cavs: Mapping out a deal for Tristan Thompson to the Wizards
By Dan Gilinsky
The Wiz might be the most logical trade partner for TT
The most logical trade partner I believe at this point for TT’s services appears to be the Washington Wizards, a squad that Fedor also mentioned as a possible landing spot for the big man.
Along with that, on The Lowe Post pod, hosted by ESPN’s Zach Lowe, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that the Wiz have interest in Thompson, and Candace Buckner of the Washington Post had this to add as well.
So the Tristan Thompson news @WindhorstESPN had previously reported — I’m hearing the same. The #Wizards have expressed interest in Thompson.
— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) February 4, 2020
A big man who rebounds, does the dirty work + with a trade, the Wiz would have his bird rights ... a move w/ an eye toward the future
Now it was also reported by The Athletic‘s David Aldridge on Tuesday that the Wizards do not have much interest in Thompson, because a potential re-signing of TT could be “quite problematic” when it comes to bringing back Davis Bertans. Bertans has had 15.0 points per game and shot 42.9 percent from three-point range this season, as noted by Basketball Reference, and really, shattered expectations.
That being said, as Fedor hit on, with the Wizards in striking distance of the East’s eighth seed, Thompson, who has had a career year on the offensive end and played good defense this season despite playing with so many young players, could definitely help Washington.
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The Wiz have the league’s worst defensive rating and rebounding clip, per NBA.com, and TT could help from the jump; in addition, that would play right into Sports Illustrated‘s Sam Amico noting how Thompson has been “linked to Washington” and also the Clippers, for what it’s worth.
Plus, as Fedor also hit on, with so few teams having ability to be real impact free agent players in free agency this offseason, Thompson likely won’t have much of a market. Plus, the Wizards I would imagine, even with having TT’s Bird rights after a potential trade, would be able to bring back Thompson, with the team rebuilding, I’d think at a much more reasonable price tag than his previous five-year, $82 million contract, and maybe Bertans could still be compensated very well.
The 28-year-old Thompson, with John Wall hopefully healthy next season after a reported Achilles rupture, alongside Bradley Beal, could be a huge piece for Washington still in coming years, and TT could bring a leadership presence, too.