Will Cavaliers get Tristan Thompson signed before training camp

Thompson may sign a one-year qualifying offer for $6.9 million and enter unrestricted free agency next summer if a deal is not reached by the end of the week.

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Cavs and Thompson are $14 million apart on a new deal.

Tristan Thompson and the Cleveland Cavaliers have been in a summer-long standoff over Thompson’s next contract.

The likelihood has always been that Thompson signs the one-year qualifying offer worth $6.9 million, but that possibility gets greater every day.

However, Thompson and the Cavs have hit a wall in contract negotiations, one that’s only been complicated by Thompson being a restricted free agent, meaning the Cavs can match any offer Thompson receives.

It will be interesting to see if a deal gets done just in time for the start of training camp next week.

There is still one member of the last year’s Eastern Conference Championship squad that is still unsigned and at this pace may become a training camp holdout. Thompson, 24, has been holding out all summer for a max extension at five years and $94 million, but the Cavaliers reportedly are holding firm at an offer of five years, $80 million.

James’ agent, Rich Paul, also represents Thompson.

The Cavaliers’ offer of $80 million is close to the deals big men Draymond Green and Jonas Valanciunas signed this summer with the Warriors and Raptors, respectively. Should Thompson decide to do this, he should be inclined for a decent season.

The National Basketball Association season is right around the corner, and unless a deal happens soon, the situation between the Cavs and Thompson doesn’t bode well for a team that looks like a contender to make it back to the Finals.