No Hitner, Indians struggles and Akron yodels … While We’re Waiting
May 1, 2014Tim Couch a bust, but far from the biggest
May 1, 2014While everyone awaits the opening of the NBA’s contract extension window with regard to Cleveland and Kyrie Irving, the All-Star point guard’s teammate—and “buddy ball” partner—Tristan Thompson may very well find himself on the opposite end of that discussion.
In a recent chat on FOX Sports Ohio, NBA writer Sam Amico wrote that he believes Thompson will be dealt before the team would give him a contract extension.
Since we don’t know who the GM is yet, it’s tough to make an accurate call. To be quite honest, from everything I’m hearing, Tristan will get traded before he gets an extension with the Cavs.
Thompson, who was selected three picks after Irving in 2011, has played all 82 games in each of the last two seasons. While he experienced solid growth between his rookie and sophomore season, Thompson averaged a near-identical 11.7 points and 9.4 rebounds per contest in 2013-14. Switching his shooting hand, Thompson did see an 85-point increase in his free throw shooting, but he took a hit from the field where he shot just 47.7 percent. By all accounts, Thompson is a great teammate and a high-quality individual, but the 6-foot-9-inch power forward blocked just 0.4 shots per game and continues to hover around 108 in defensive rating.
Given how much frontcourt bodies make in today’s NBA, it can be reasonably expected that Thompson’s camp (he’s represented by LeBron James’ friend and agent Rich Paul) will be commanding a number that the team may not be willing to match. Given that the Cavaliers invested the first-overall pick a year ago in power forward Anthony Bennett, there is undoubtedly a safety net from a roster standpoint.
When the new CBA was inked, it was only a matter of time before the Cavaleirs’ lottery talent was going to be due for extensions. Hopes were, obviously, that the Cavs would be in a much better place when these decisions would have to be made. If anything, this all just adds another fold into what is looking to be a crazy summer for the Wine and Gold.
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(Photo: Scott Sargent/WFNY)
17 Comments
Why do the Cavs need to do anything with Thompson? Why can’t they let him go into restricted free agency when that time comes and then determine if they want to match any offers out there? Is anyone willing to pay Tristan to be anything but a backup on their team? I really love the guy… his hustle, his offensive rebounds, his drive to get better, and so forth. But he’s a limited player who is probably a couple years away from having a reliable elbow jumper and I don’t see how he ever becomes an elite defender. But he’s a nice backup at PF… the Cavs just need to find a starter at that position whether Anthony Bennett morphs himself into that guy, or he bottoms out and they find someone else.
if we have learned anything over the years in the NBA it is that there is always one owner/GM willing to overpay for a marginal talent. especially one that could average a double-double.
we don’t know who the GM is yet,
this is frustrating me right now. the NBA doesn’t have a long offseason like the NFL, so I think it would be beneficial to be doing the GM search right now and getting that spot shored up. give the new GM as much time as possible to scout and confer with our scouts on setting up the board, working on trades, going over our cap situation for the next several years, etc.
Let’s mail out a photo of Kris Humphries to all of the GMs in the NBA… that should help!
Not sure what Gilbert is waiting for, but he needs to sign Griffin. Now.
Maybe he’s waiting to poach Gary Sacks and Doc Rivers. Not that I would have a problem with that…
$50mil NBA? Really, NBA GM’s you have given this man $50mil?
http://ll-media.tmz.com/2012/03/10/0310-kris-humphries-getty-ex-1.jpg
Package Thompson in an offer to Minnesota for K-Love!!!
what Pat said. He’s significantly improved in one area, but improved FT percentage doesn’t help your team so much if you’ve developed no moves
to put yourself on the line. More often his shots underneath get blocked cleanly.
Actually hope the media cliche about Tristan – “hard working kid!” – isn’t true. Because then I could imagine more of an untapped upside. Oh wait, had he stayed in college he’d just be graduating. And JJ Hickson would just have been finishing his doctorate now, but still fumbling away every pass.
I’ve never been a TT fan (passing on Valunsiaus (sp?) was a big mistake). I think he’s pretty much reached his ceiling at this point and it was very disconcerting how to seemed to disappear effort-wise in a lot of games down the stretch. PF’s like him are easy to find, so I wouldn’t be upset at all if he’s dealt.
If you’re going to sell, sell high. And moving Thompson now would not be selling high. Buy yourself another year, and maybe you can move him in a sign-and-trade.
He is a soft PF.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x-fkSYDtUY
😉
Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude!
http://notebookwine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/The-Dude.jpg
AN 85 POINT INCREASE IN FT PERCENTAGE!?!
Damn NBA and their 3 digit percentages…
Not disagreeing with you, but just wanted to note this somewhere: I found it funny that Valanciunas was about 1 inch away from costing his team the game last night. If that ball to the backcourt gets tipped by the defender covering Blatche (it was close, but wasn’t tipped), then D-Will wouldn’t have had the over-and-back call and his half court shot would have counted due to a really dumb goaltend by Jonas. I hope Dwane Casey rolled up a newspaper and swatted him on the nose after that idiotic move.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/raptors-hold-on-to-beat-nets-in-wild-finish–just-avoid-world-s-dumbest-goaltend–video-043139814.html?vp=1
I know he had a bad season but, I think Bennett is the death nail for Tristan in Cleveland. Luckily Tristan was here to take some slack off of Bennett but, if Bennett starts showing us why we drafted him so highly, it makes Tristan highly expendable.
Plus, I think Bennetts ceiling is far and above Tristan. He just has to get out of the basement first.