Tristan Thompson officially holding out from Cleveland Cavaliers

Once Kevin Love committed to the Cleveland Cavaliers long-term contract, head coach David Blatt spent the offseason trying to figure out an efficient way to get more out of his stretch 4.

I don’t think Thompson is worth a max contract and I believe that the Cavs shouldn’t be pressured into giving him one.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it was reported last week that Bennett walked away from the Minnesota Timberwolves with a $3.65 million buyout and agreed to sign with the Raptors for $947,276. Word was that if Thompson took the qualifying offer, he would sign elsewhere – possibly Toronto – when he became an unrestricted free agent. It doesn’t help the Cavaliers’ side that Thompson is good friends with franchise icon LeBron James, and the two players share an agent in Rich Paul.

The Cleveland Cavaliers may have to make a choice as Tristan Thompson has yet to sign a contract.

With power forward Love and centers Timofey Mozgov and Anderson Varejao already in the fold, Cleveland has made it clear it will not overpay for Thompson, who possesses little leverage. It seems likely that a few compromise is reached in the near future so he can report to camp, although there are no guarantees in this odd saga.

Part of the issue here is the freakish nature of restricted free agency.

In 2013-2014, Thompson was a starting power forward for the Cavaliers averaging 11.7 points and 9.2 rebounds over 31.6 minutes of play. This season looks to present many challenges for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Thompson, a restricted free agent, is willing to settle for a three-year, million contract but the Cavs couldn’t accept the value as of the moment.

Over four seasons with the Cavs, Thompson has averaged 10.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and about a block per game.

“We have all the pieces, mentalities and characteristics – whatever you want to call it – that has the making of a championship-caliber team”. I’ve seen a few suggest that the Cavaliers should halve their offer to Thompson, or at least brutally trim it down, but I can’t really see that happening. “And everybody that we went against knew it when we came back”.

“He can sign a deal with the Cavs, but he’s at the mercy of whatever they decide to offer him“.

“We were very, very, very angry and everybody we went against knew it. I think the first team we played when we came back happened to be Dallas, after the lockout, on Christmas, and they saw how angry we were.”.

“We fully expect that tomorrow he will be here in a few form or fashion”, Griffin said during National Basketball Association TV’s broadcast of Thursday’s training camp.