Kevin Love, Larry Nance Jr. want Tristan Thompson back, but Cavs potentially drafting a big would kibosh that

Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr. want Tristan Thompson to be re-signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

It’s understandable for Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr. to want the Cleveland Cavaliers to re-sign the set-to-be-expiring Tristan Thompson. First Love and then Nance tweeted about them wanting the Wine and Gold to do so, and Forbes‘ Evan Dammarell hit on that.

Dammarell also touched on how the Cavs could bring back Thompson, who reportedly is interested in re-signing with Cleveland and the feeling is mutual. That said, as Dammarell alluded to, if Andre Drummond is extended it wouldn’t be feasible.

To quickly add, Drummond has stressed how he fully intends to pick up his $28.8 million player option for next season, but Dammarell did note how Drummond seemingly “walk back” on his plan involving that, in an interview/fubo Sports Networks special with Julie Stewart-Binks.

Anyhow, though I’m uncertain if Drummond could be a logical long term fit with the Cavs, he could potentially agree with the Cavs on an extension, and that’d seemingly decrease the possibility of the Cavs re-signing Thompson.

Dammarell did say how TT could potentially agree to realistically a three-year, $30 million deal and not have to just sign via the mid-level exception, which is reportedly set to be in the ball park of $8 or $9 million.

Nonetheless, while I can understand why Love and Nance voiced their support for TT being back, given him being a champion, and having carved out a great career with Cleveland and being a key team leader, I still could feasibly see the Cavaliers selecting a big in the 2020 NBA Draft.

To reiterate, the Cleveland Cavaliers could seemingly go with a big in the upcoming draft, too.

More from King James Gospel

• 3 possible starting lineups for Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023-24
• The Cavaliers may have snagged a hidden gem in Craig Porter Jr.
• 4 players the Cavaliers should pursue in 2024 free agency
• 6 players Cavaliers might replace Jarrett Allen with by the trade deadline
• This stat is one to keep an eye on for Cavaliers’ Max Strus in years ahead

James Wiseman, who previously played at Memphis, is a prospect the Cavs are reportedly very high on, as Dammarell himself detailed, and while I’m not the biggest fan of Wiseman, they of course could select him.

Additionally, a prospect that I’m higher on, given the direction of today’s NBA and the value of switchable bigs, is USC’s Onyeka Okongwu, who has drawn passing/athleticism comparisons to the Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo, as KJG’s Tyler Meitin highlighted.

Okongwu is a polished low post player offensively, too, and though the three-point shot isn’t there yet, he did show flashes of face-up ability in his lone collegiate season at USC, and is still only 18.

Plus, Okongwu frankly could provide a rim protecting presence in his minutes-share, due to terrific team defensive instincts, timing and the aforementioned athleticism at 6-foot-9 and 245 pounds.

Moreover, Okongwu had 2.7 blocks and 1.2 steals per game, and in terms of the offensive end, he had 16.2 points per contest, and had 8.6 rebounds per outing as well.

So although the Cavs could potentially bring back TT and there is mutual interest there, and I completely understand why Love and Nance would openly support the Cavs doing so, the Cleveland Cavaliers could still feasibly go with a big, such as Wiseman or Okongwu, in the 2020 NBA Draft. That’d seemingly kibosh the possibility of TT being re-signed, one would assume.

When it comes to Okongwu, from my perspective, I believe that long term, that could be better for Cleveland if they did so, anyhow, from an on-floor perspective. Okongwu is really switchable and has at least shown face-up promise, and I believe could be very productive, and would be on a rookie deal for a while.

Albeit swinging back, the Cavs extending Drummond wouldn’t lead to them drafting a big, though, as Dammarell previously noted. Given the current uncertainty of a Drummond extension, and with how Okongwu could really help Collin Sexton, Darius Garland and the Cavs team defense in the near future and shows plenty of offensive promise, I still again could see Cleveland going with him.

Cleveland has been consistently linked to Wiseman for the upcoming draft as a player that’s reportedly among their top tier of prospects as well, and whether or not I’m a fan of his personally, the Cavs could very well decide he’s their selection come mid-October.

So while Love and Nance, particularly from a leadership standpoint, want TT back, the Cavs could be better off long term going with drafting a big, and I believe Okongwu, in particular, leading to the potentially of TT being re-signed being kiboshed. That big man player could be helped some by Drummond if he opts in, too, and I’d still think Drummond would eventually do so anyhow.

The Cavaliers could eventually go with a guard such as LaMelo Ball of the NBL’s Illawarra Hawks, or a wing such as Auburn’s Isaac Okoro, however. Perhaps that could lead to a higher possibility of Thompson being re-signed.