The Cavaliers do not plan to buy out center Tristan Thompson despite agreeing to a trade for Pistons center Andre Drummond, David Aldridge of The Athletic tweets.
Thompson, who is making approximately $18.5MM this season, will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Thompson was on the trading block, with Cleveland reportedly seeking a first-round pick for the 28-year-old. Thompson’s camp was hoping he would be dealt and now finds himself in a tricky situation the last two months of the season with the addition of Drummond.
Clients of Klutch Sports – which represents Thompson – typically don’t negotiate buyouts, but he and the people around him “definitely wanted him out of Cleveland,” Joe Vardon of The Athletic tweets. It’s unclear whether that desire has waned now that he wouldn’t get to take his Bird rights with him to a new destination.
Prior to adding Drummond, the Cavs were open to re-signing Thompson this summer, according to Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The front office had internal discussions about a contract extension but Thompson’s demands were too high. The team’s brass also wanted to keep its options open for the offseason. A sign-and-trade involving Thompson this summer is a possibility, Fedor adds.
Thompson is averaging 11.9 PPG and 10.4 RPG in 31.0 MPG this season.
Cavs, new starting lineup, Drummond, Thompson, Love, Nance, Jr, and Delly.
Love is good enough to play small forward….also left out there two young guards In sexton and garland who are both better than delly. Your lack of basketball iq doesnt surprise anyone.
Yeah, because I was serious.
Wow dude.
Lol leave it to the LA guy to not follow the joke at all…
Yeah, he sure schooled me.
How were so riled up about this comment that you didn’t understand it was a joke?
People in LA are kinda slow apparently…..
You’re a riot. Love is good enough to play small forward???!!!!! He can’t even defend POWER forwards, let alone small forwards.
base on how much money they each make that why this is the starting lineup. how i see it
They’d be the opposite of the Rockets small ball lineup.
i dont see the point of this trade. it pointless for the cavs. it not like they get a huge improvement . dude old school basketball and not alot of teams play by it and not many teams need a guy like drummond.
Cavs now have two stretch 5s!!!! Lol
They’ll be buying him out, this is stupid. What are they trying to prove?
Cavs can’t lose with Drummond deal. If he opts out, they might sign him or end up having lost a low 2nd round pick. If he opts in, he’s a legitimate trade asset.
Cavs owe TT nothing. He said he wouldn’t be bought out a few days ago, now he’s demanding one?
Predict Tristan will be an impact rebounder in the playoffs, with the Lakers.