Player agents have created chaos and drama for years, but it just got real for Cleveland Cavalier fans. Tristan Thompson, the young power forward who stepped up in a big way during the Cavaliers deep playoff run to the NBA Finals last season, has been extended a qualifying offer by the Cleveland front office. This appears to not sit well with either the player or his agent, Rich Paul.
Paul issued a statement that if the Cavaliers do not work out a deal with Thompson this season, Thompson will not be on the Cleveland roster next season. Paul has thrown down the gauntlet, drawn his line in the sand, and both agent and player now enter a contractual showdown with team.
There is plenty of room for skepticism. Many times agents have been misleading, onerously making proclamations only to reverse course at the first whiff of a payday for the athlete they represent. But, in the vast desert of the NBA offseason, our eyes look for any sign of hope, any fixation to help us as we inch closer to another season’s beginning. We can call this the great mirage of “what if.”
So, what if – what if the Cavaliers are unable to retain the services of Thompson after the 2015-16 season? What if they are okay with letting Thompson walk, instead of paying him an excessive amount after already signing fellow power forward Kevin Love to a long-term deal? A lot of teams could be interested in the services of Thompson if he is made available or walks at contract end. There is speculation about Toronto, the Lakers are always interested in everyone, and other teams could be just one piece away from making a push. There are also those wild card lottery teams. The kind of teams that will take a swing on a player. Remember, Andrew Bynum ended up in Philadelphia, Carmelo Anthony opted to stay in New York, and Rudy Gay found a home in Sacramento. Players can end up in different cities numerous ways. Let’s take a look at some of the lottery locations that could spring on Thompson in 2016.
Philadelphia 76ers
Is anyone remotely surprised that this could be a possibility? The Sixers are basically the bizarro Lakers at this point. Both teams are basically interested in the services of any player available. But while the Lakers are trying to add every good player, Philly is just trying to cycle through as many warm bodies as possible.
The Sixers will have so much room under the cap next year that they will have to go out and find people to take their money. Pretty excited to see what they cook up. Current roster makeup leaves them just three (THREE!) contracts guaranteed next year: Carl Landry, Jahlil Okafor and Richaun Holmes. They also have three qualifying offer candidates, a few team options and a whole bunch of non-guaranteed deals.
If Philadelphia wanted to get crazy, they sure could. They will have so much cap room and plenty of assets. It doesn’t feel like Sixers GM Sam Hinkie would want to make this sign-and-trade a reality. It also does not feel like he should still be the general manager of a professional basketball team. The Cavaliers salary cap should be a brutal, messy thing. Cleveland is at $59.1 million guaranteed next season, but that number is set to rocket all the way up to $97.5 milling if all players are retained or opt in. That is before adding a Thompson contract.
The actual possibility of Hinkie and Co. chasing Thompson is real, but unlikely. Don’t expect this to ever happen.
New York Knicks
Another team that is in the running, in their minds, for every player that comes available. The Knicks only have $55.4 million in guaranteed contracts for next season. They also do not have a great deal of depth on their roster heading into 2016. Guaranteed deals for Carmelo Anthony, Robin Lopez, Kristaps Porzingis and Jerian Grant lead the way.
The Knicks have little else on the roster, though it would seem that some players stand to hang around, such as Langston Galloway and Cleanthony Early. There isn’t much for depth, however, and the frontcourt could use a boost in hustle. The Knicks have suffered through the Amar’e and Melo era. Players that work, but not very hard. Thompson made a name for himself by getting involving in the game but crashing the boards, outworking opponents in the post and having the ability to help on opposing guards.
As far as lottery teams go, the Knicks seem like a place with the need, the money and the star factor to lure a young big to join their core.
One big obstacle could be Thompson’s current teammates J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert. Both players found their way to Cleveland from New York just last year and it would be more shocking if they were not attempting to dissuade their teammate from leaving than if they were giving him the names of clubs they suggest he frequent in his new home.
Portland Trail Blazers
You didn’t forget about Portland, did you? Definitely a lottery team for the upcoming season, Damian Lillard is currently at the helm of a team that will have a hard time making their way into the playoff picture for 2015-16.
The Blazers only have $36.2 million guaranteed for 2016. There are various options and qualifying offers that will need to be addressed, but even if everything is picked up next year, they still come in at just $58.1 million. That leaves them a max-level deal and then some.
Portland would hold the edge over the other teams mentioned because they have a bona fide star guard in Lillard and have made the playoffs in successive seasons. Thompson just got a taste of the good life, advancing through the playoffs and making his first NBA Finals appearance. Taking the money, but also going to a place where even the playoffs seem like a reach is not going to be very appealing. Enter the Trail Blazers. The playoff appearances, big money, and star talent make this an attractive destination.
In summary, no matter what Thompson does, the lottery teams that seem most likely to land him would still be a long shot. And that presumes that a player’s agent is being genuine about his threat over a contract negotiation. Cleveland still has to be considered the favorite in the Thompson saga, likely to retain the services of the talented young hustler. Much like the lottery, it takes some luck to lure a big talent to an organization with a poor recent history, but Thompson would make a great addition to any of the teams he might sign with should the Cavaliers fail to reach an agreement with him.
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