The Cleveland Cavaliers spent the entire offseason making deals and writing new pay checks for some of the league's biggest names in an effort to acquire a team that will end the franchise's playoff drought and get them contending for an Eastern Conference title. Now with the 2014 season just around the corner, Cleveland is now focused on simply playing basketball. So what happens to those players that have contracts expiring next summer?
The deadline to get players under a new contract is in October or else everyone with an expiring deal will head off to the land of restricted or unrestricted free agency. That is the position Tristan Thompson is in with the Cavaliers. The 23-year-old forward has the chance to be a restricted free agent next summer and is looking for a pay raise in his next deal. The Cavaliers and Thompson opted not to have any contract negotiations over the summer, instead facing trade rumors for their power forward. Thompson notes that he is not concerned with his status on the team despite the expiring deal and other lingering rumors.
"Right now, I'm not focused on that," Thompson said, via the Cleveland Beacon Journal. "My whole goal is getting training camp started and that's where my head's at right now. How can I help this team take the next step and how I can help this team and be an asset to this team."
The Beacon Journal is reporting that Thompson wants a deal worth $11 million a year which is a big upgrade from the $6 million deal he is currently inked to. That contract would put the young forward on par with players like Derrick Favors and Larry Sanders. The issue is that both Kevin Love and LeBron James will also be needing new contracts. James will get a raise and Love with get a max contract. Pair all of that with the max deal Kyrie Irving is currently signed to and the Cavaliers have tight salary cap space. Right now, Thompson might not be a priority.
Thompson has everyone in his corner when it comes to this future in Cleveland. James has been seen working out with the young forward a lot since announcing his return, but he notes that the Cavaliers are the 'Kyrie Irving Show' and nothing more.
"I'll probably handle the ball a little bit, but this is Kyrie [Irving's] show," James said, via ESPN.com. "He's our point guard. He's our floor general, and we need him to put us in position to succeed offensively. He has to demand that and command that from us with him handling the ball."
James also made note that he wants Dion Waiters taking his share of shots, but not at the point guard position. With the addition of Love, Thompson will be back on the bench leading the second-wave of scoring. If he has a strong season, Thompson can expect to get that high-paying contract, but it remains to be seen if it is with Cleveland.
