Tristan Thompson

[BA_CavsFan]

I think if this becomes a long, drawn out battle between the Cavs and Rich Paul, the Cavs will eventually cave and give TT his max or whatever he's demanding. But the Cavs can't be happy with Rich Paul's games. After the Bledsoe situation last summer and now this, I wouldn't be surprised if Paul is getting a reputation of being very difficult to work with. He just doesn't seem to be willing to compromise, which I guess works out when you're just a puppet for LeBron.

 

[Rich]

I think if this becomes a long, drawn out battle between the Cavs and Rich Paul, the Cavs will eventually cave and give TT his max or whatever he's demanding. But the Cavs can't be happy with Rich Paul's games. After the Bledsoe situation last summer and now this, I wouldn't be surprised if Paul is getting a reputation of being very difficult to work with. He just doesn't seem to be willing to compromise, which I guess works out when you're just a puppet for LeBron.

He's a player's agent. Key word there is player. He's doing his job.

 

[Paul]

Free agency has essentially just started, I think the Cavs just sit back and wait and play this smart. LeBron isn't leaving. If and when we sign TT, LeBron may just give the same ultimatum for JR returning. JR and LeBron seem very close as well.

Out of curiosity, will the Cavs be informed if other teams make offers for TT and will they also know the specific amounts, or do the Cavs just have to wonder what is secretly being offered?

 

[Rich]

And by the way, for everyone saying this should teach the Cavs to deal with Rich Paul players, he probably feels that HE'S actually owed this money because he was the primary voice in LeBron's ear convincing him to come back to Cleveland. Don't forget that.

 

[I LOVE YOU ABBY]

I think the animosity is coming from the fact that no team would value Thompson this highly besides us. His deal is a direct product of the LeBron tax, and nobody likes to be a bystander to nepotism. Yes he's a young, improving player and yes, we have no way to replace him, but that doesn't mean we give in to every one of LeBron's demands. That's how you end up disregarding a year's worth of scouting only to draft Shabazz Napier off of a tweet.

Great usage of the word "nepotism." Bravo.

 

[wuck]

Out of curiosity, will the Cavs be informed if other teams make offers for TT and will they also know the specific amounts, or do the Cavs just have to wonder what is secretly being offered?

Rich Paul would be under no obligation to tell the Cavs about other offers, but as an RFA, any offer that Thompson signed would be known about (and matched) by the Cavs.

The numbers that have been tossed around are already higher (and include an extra year) than anything Thompson could be offered by another team.

We're in the 4th day of free agency, and it's been known for a long time that keeping Thompson is inevitable and expensive. I think the water is far under the bridge when it comes to arguing about whether he is worth X$ or Y$. It's going to be a LOT of money either way. Hopefully it gets settled soon, although I don't think that Thompson's contract being unfinished/finished will have a major effect on any other moves by the Cavs.

 

[Ruggeder]

Serious question, has a one dimensional player who isn't the best at that dimension even, ever received an overpay like this before?

 

[Paul]

Rich Paul would be under no obligation to tell the Cavs about other offers, but as an RFA, any offer that Thompson signed would be known about (and matched) by the Cavs.

The numbers that have been tossed around are already higher (and include an extra year) than anything Thompson could be offered by another team.

We're in the 4th day of free agency, and it's been known for a long time that keeping Thompson is inevitable and expensive. I think the water is far under the bridge when it comes to arguing about whether he is worth X$ or Y$. It's going to be a LOT of money either way. Hopefully it gets settled soon, although I don't think that Thompson's contract being unfinished/finished will have a major effect on any other moves by the Cavs.

Do the Cavs become aware of the offers immediately or are they told about them on a certain date in the future?

Just trying to gauge if the Cavs can kind of get a feel for whether offers are coming in or whether they really have no idea. The Pacers have cleared some cap space now? I wonder if they would make an offer.

It seems like in LeBron's apparent efforts to make sure that the Cavs fully reload their roster so that they will be successful, that he may in fact actually be weakening the franchise. He's adding this additional market pressure on the Cavs to not only pay our players but overpay for them. This seems like it would weaken us in the future because we would end up with bad contracts that would be hard to move. Look at how no one will touch Joe Johnson or Deron Williams. The Nets are therefore struggling to make moves.

 

[Danny Arison]

Rich Paul would be under no obligation to tell the Cavs about other offers, but as an RFA, any offer that Thompson signed would be known about (and matched) by the Cavs.

The numbers that have been tossed around are already higher (and include an extra year) than anything Thompson could be offered by another team.

We're in the 4th day of free agency, and it's been known for a long time that keeping Thompson is inevitable and expensive. I think the water is far under the bridge when it comes to arguing about whether he is worth X$ or Y$. It's going to be a LOT of money either way. Hopefully it gets settled soon, although I don't think that Thompson's contract being unfinished/finished will have a major effect on any other moves by the Cavs.

Why? doesn't it affect the future cap space of the Cavs? I mean eventually the Cavs would like to be under the cap for obvious reason, them overpaying like that making things impossible, right?

 

[kovanovich]

Do the Cavs become aware of the offers immediately or are they told about them on a certain date in the future?

Just trying to gauge if the Cavs can kind of get a feel for whether offers are coming in or whether they really have no idea. The Pacers have cleared some cap space now? I wonder if they would make an offer.

It seems like in LeBron's apparent efforts to make sure that the Cavs fully reload their roster so that they will be successful, that he may in fact actually be weakening the franchise. He's adding this additional market pressure on the Cavs to not only pay our players but overpay for them. This seems like it would weaken us in the future because we would end up with bad contracts that would be hard to move. Look at how no one will touch Joe Johnson or Deron Williams. The Nets are therefore struggling to make moves.

The Cavs would only be officially notified of an offer sheet that Thompson actually signs.

Any other offers received by Thompson would be between him/agent and the other team.

I suspect the Cavs would find out about other offers at some point.

But I doubt any other team has at this point even made him an offer since it is so widely assumed he is re-signing with the Cavs.

 

[BA_CavsFan]

He's a player's agent. Key word there is player. He's doing his job.

True, and I'm sure his clients aren't complaining, but even as shady as this business can be it feels like this is uncharted territory with LeBron ostensibly threatening to leave yet still maintaining that he never will. Paul is pretending like he has leverage yet he really doesn't, and everyone knows it. Like I said I think he'll win, but that's only because that minuscule chance that LeBron gets pissed off enough to run off to LA is worth the tens of millions of dollars Gilbert has to pay in Thompson's extra salary and the luxury tax. Negotiation is supposed to be about two parties making compromises, especially in a situation like this where TT needs the Cavs as much as they need him. However this process has been more like Paul giving a number, and then running to Chris Haynes or Windhorst with his "LeBron will make the best business decision" crap until the Cavs get desperate enough. I guess what I'm trying to say is while his tactics are effective, they're crude.

 

[kovanovich]

Why? doesn't it affect the future cap space of the Cavs? I mean eventually the Cavs would like to be under the cap for obvious reason, them overpaying like that making things impossible, right?

Cavs aren't going to be under the cap so long as LeBron is here no matter now much the cap goes up. That's not necessarily a bad thing. It's just a statement of fact.

 

[wuck]

Do the Cavs become aware of the offers immediately or are they told about them on a certain date in the future?

It would be up to Rich Paul. No requirement for the Cavs ever to know.

Given today's NBA universe, if there were a holdup, we would probably first hear from journalists that Thompson is entertaining offers from other teams. And perhaps Paul would share info as a bargaining maneuver. But in this case, if the $80M for 5 year figure is anywhere near the ballpark, then Paul/Thompson would be taking a step down in salary to consult with other teams. It makes no sense for them to talk with other teams unless the Cavs were to pull their offer off the table.

I don't foresee that happening. Too bad they didn't get it done before July 4, since the holiday typically causes delays, but that doesn't mean it won't get resolved soon.

 

[Lysander]

It would be a waste of time for another team to make TT an offer that we would undoubtedly match. Including a max, I suspect. The only sensible move(s) are for the Cavs and Thompson to agree on a long term deal, or he takes the QO. I agree with wuck though, the only way Thompson seeks offers from other teams is if the Cavs pull their offer from the table.

 

[Bob_The_Cat]

It would be a waste of time for another team to make TT an offer that we would undoubtedly match. Including a max, I suspect. The only sensible move(s) are for the Cavs and Thompson to agree on a long term deal, or he takes the QO. I agree with wuck though, the only way Thompson seeks offers from other teams is if the Cavs pull their offer from the table.

Really, TT signing the QO might be better for us. I think his value is higher right now than it will be this time next year, assuming Love starts healthy. We'll also have a better idea of what the cap is looking like next year.