A surprise to no one, the Cleveland Cavaliers are prepping for a "big" offseason. The Cavaliers do not even have a permanent general manager in place and they are already prepping for another offseason of trades and drafting. Once again left to try and establish a core group of players that can finally start bringing postseason success to Cleveland, could certain guys on the roster be getting traded to help the effort?
Tristan Thompson and Kyrie Irving were both drafted in 2011, just three picks apart. Both players are facing trade rumors this offseason, but it is likely on one gets dealt. According to FOX Sports writer Sam Amico, Thompson is likely to be traded over Irving. Amico notes that without a general manager, it is hard to know for sure the exact direction Cleveland will head in the offseason, but one or both players will be gone before getting a contract extension.
Irving is the franchise star and while everyone wants to assume Cleveland will trade him sooner rather than later, that is heavy speculation. A deal for Thompson feels more realistic. Thompson averaged 11.7 points and 9.4 rebounds this year while playing buddy ball with Irving. His stats have grown from his rookie to his sophomore season, making his value high.
Two things work against Thompson with the Cavaliers. Last season the team used their first-overall pick on power forward Anthony Bennett. If Thompson were traded, the Cavaliers have a backup option and really losing nothing. The other issue is that he and Irving are due an extension at the same time. Irving is going to get a max deal. He is the franchise star and the Cavaliers will do anything to keep him. That could leave Thompson out of the picture and searching for a team willing to give him the most money. If the Cavaliers feel like Thompson could exit, they will trade him.
According to Amico, the Thompson trade is favored higher than even a trade for Dion Waiters. The point guard looked all put go at one point last season, but the Cavaliers never finalized a move. Waiters has talent and they prefer to hold on to that rather than let another interested team pick him up.
The Cavaliers believe they have a realistic chance at landing LeBron James in free agency if he opts out of his Miami deal. According to Gilbert, bringing back James is never and will never be out of the question for the Cavaliers. If the team is going to get the reigning MVP, they most make roster moves like these.
