The Cleveland Cavaliers have opened up training camp, but Tristan Thompson has not yet signed a contract and LeBron James is hoping a deal gets done soon. The Cavs also announced that Iman Shumpert will miss up to three months with a wrist injury and will have surgery and this comes as Kyrie Irving likely will miss the start of the season.
The Cavaliers are coming back after making the finals last year and the team is considered to be a heavy favorite for the east. The team has opened up camp, but Fox Sports reports that Thompson did not attend media day, as he has yet to sign a contract with the team. Thompson is a restricted free agent and Thursday is the deadline for his one year qualifying offer. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Thompson is willing to sign a shorter deal, but he wants around $17 million per season in salary and that could be too high for what the Cavs want to do.
The two sides have been talking (and not talking) all summer and reports have a deal not looking good heading into the middle of the week. James has mentioned Thompson and said that he is staying out negotiations despite his agent Rich Paul also handling Thompson. The Cavs made a number of moves this offseason, including bringing back Shumpert and now he will be out. According to Jason Lloyd at the Akron Beacon Journal, the Cavs announced that Shumpert will have surgery this week and he could miss 3-4 months recovering from the injury.
Check here for more on Iman Shumpert, Tristan Thompson and the Cavs.
Brian Windhorst at ESPN reported earlier in the summer that the Cavs and Thompson were at a "stalemate" over talks, as Thompson's situation has no precedent. The Cavs have Kevin Love and just signed him to a max extension and with Love in Cleveland, Thompson is not a starting player. Thompson has shown he has starting ability and talent, but on this team he is not a starter and that changes things up a bit. Thompson reportedly wants a number closer to what other players have received and he could continue to hold out for more, but the QO deadline is coming
The Cavaliers brought back JR Smith along with Shumpert, James Jones, Matthew Dellavedova and Love this offseason and Thompson remains the only major piece unsigned. Smith was expected to stay with the Cavs and while he did not get as much money as he was looking for, Smith said he would "gamble" on himself any day at media day when asked about his contract.
The Cavs brought Smith back and that came as the team was mentioned in rumors regarding a deal for Jamal Crawford on the trade market. But that is likely not happening now and Crawford is could be traded to teams like the Knicks and Miami Heat, as they also expressed interest.
The Cavaliers have made a number of additions this offseason, including adding Mo Williams, Richard Jefferson and Sasha Kaun. The team re-signed LeBron James, JR Smith, James Jones, Iman Shumpert and Kevin Love and the team is also expected to bring back Tristan Thompson on a contract, but what contract that will be remains a mystery for now.
