Tristan Thompson negotiations reportedly stall after Cavs’ forward asks for $12 million per season
Talks between Thompson and the Cavs have stalled just several days in advance of the Oct. 31 deadline.
David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Contract extension negotiations between the Cleveland Cavaliers and big man Tristan Thompson have stalled, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
The Cavs and Thompson have until Oct. 31 to come to an agreement on an extension. The 23-year-old is reportedly seeking a deal worth about $12 million per season, which is similar to what the Denver Nuggets gave Kenneth Faried earlier this month and what the Utah Jazz gave Derrick Favors prior to last season.
Thompson started all 82 games last season, and he averaged 11.7 points and 9.2 rebounds. With Kevin Love in the fold and Anderson Varejao healthy, Thompson will come off the bench to start this season.
Why Thompson should hold out for $12 million a year
Thompson is represented by Rich Paul, who also represents LeBron James. Paul negotiated several favorable new deals over the summer, including contracts for James and Eric Bledsoe. Bledsoe and the Phoenix Suns were at a stalemate for much of the offseason, but the guard wound up with a lucrative five-year, $70 million contract just before training camp.
During those negotiations, James encouraged the Suns via social media to up their offer to Bledsoe. If James vouches for Thompson and pushes for a contract, the big man may be able to squeeze out a bit more money considering how much power the four-time MVP wields within the organization.
Thompson also remains an important piece to the puzzle in Cleveland despite the fact he’s heading to the bench. Varejao hasn’t played more than 65 games in a season since 2009-10, so having Thompson in place is good insurance in case of injury. Varejao could become an unrestricted free agent following this year, and while Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reports that extension talks are ongoing, locking up Thompson would be big if Varejao goes elsewhere.
Lastly, Thompson, like many other early extension candidates, is seeking more money due to the NBA’s massive new television agreement. With the salary cap set to go up, players are hoping to take advantage. If he doesn’t get the deal he wants from Cleveland, there’s a decent chance he’d get one in restricted free agency next summer.
Why Thompson shouldn’t hold out for $12 million a year
There’s always the injury risk when holding out for more money. If Thompson were to head into the season without a new deal and then suffered a major injury, he could lose a significant amount of cash.
There’s also the possibility of a disappointing season on the court. If the Cavs’ starting frontcourt stays healthy and is effective, Thompson won’t get quite as many minutes as he might like. He still could be really good in lesser minutes, but having a smaller opportunity isn’t the best thing when making a contract push.
Finally, even with the cap set to rise, the fact that Faried “only” got about $12 million a year could be a sign that Thompson wouldn’t get that kind of contract from anybody. Faried is a better player than Thompson and signed that deal after a superb performance in the FIBA Basketball World Cup, so there are no guarantees the Cavs big man would fetch a similar deal next offseason.
Likelihood Thompson signs $12 million a year extension with Cavs
Thompson is an improving young big man who will play an important role on a Cavs team expected to contend for the title. $12 million a year is an overpay, but considering the circumstances, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Cleveland shell out that cash. I expect Thompson to reach an agreement with the Cavs, and I give it a 6/10 chance of being a deal around $12 million a year.
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