Tristan Thompson won’t be playing for Canada this summer and the way things are going he many not be playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers after this season.
The rising NBA star from Brampton, Ont., has been stuck in a difficult contract negotiation with the Cavaliers that has come on the heels of an outstanding post-season performance that seemed perfectly timed for him to cash in this summer as a restricted free agent.
But after initial signs of progress the talks have stalled. Thompson turned down a four-year contract extension for $52 million before last season and is believed to be seeking a five-year deal in the range of $94 million in negotiations this summer.
But Thompson’s agent, Rich Paul – who also represents Cavs franchise cornerstone LeBron James – told Sportsnet on Monday that if the Cavaliers weren’t prepared to meet their terms, his client wouldn’t be returning after the 2015-16 season.
"All I know is that TT on a QO [Qualifying Offer] will be his last year with the Cavs," said Paul in an email on Monday.
The uncertain nature of Thompson’s contract negotiations has sealed his fate with the Canadian national team as they get set to begin their preparations for the Olympic qualifying tournament in Mexico City. Their training camp opens on Friday in Toronto with the competition beginning Aug. 31. Barring a sudden reversal, Thompson – considered one of the leaders of the young wave of Canadian NBA talent hoping to help Canada get to the Olympics for the first time since 2000 and just the second time since 1988 – will not be available this summer.
"He will not be playing for Canada at FIBA this year due to his contract negotiations," said Paul, the founder and chief executive officer of Klutch Sports Group, who also represents Toronto Raptors signee Cory Joseph. "He isn’t allowed to play without an insurable contract."
While Canada will be fielding their deepest and most talented roster ever in Mexico City – nine players with NBA experience will be in camp on Friday with reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins making his long-awaited senior national team debut – there is no question losing Thompson will be a blow.
Thompson was a terror on the glass and defensively for Canada at FIBA Americas in 2013, where he averaged 11.4 points and 10 rebounds a game, the latter number second-best in the tournament. Thompson was a breakout star during the Cavaliers’ recent run to the NBA Finals, as he tirelessly crashed the glass, grabbing 13 rebounds a game in the series, including more than five per game on the offensive boards – a category Thompson finished fifth in during the regular season.
His energy translates into any competition and Canada will miss him in Mexico City.
"It’s unfortunate but we have known all along that there was a good chance we would be in this position," said Triano. "We will obviously miss his play and leadership but fortunately we have depth at the position and other players ready to step in and play."
Canada announced their training camp roster on Monday and there is a solid compliment of big men. Anthony Bennett of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kelly Olynyk of the Boston Celtics, Andrew Nicholson of the Orlando Magic and Dwight Powell of the Dallas Mavericks will all play significant minutes at power forward, while big men Robert Sacre of the Los Angeles Lakers and Sim Bhullar, who cracked the Sacramento Kings lineup, will vie for minutes at centre.
While Wiggins is set to start at small forward, the competition behind him for one remaining spot will be fierce between Melvin Ejim, who just signed with the Orlando Magic, and national team veteran Aaron Doornekamp.
Other position battles to watch will be between Brady Heslip, Carl English, Olivier Hanlan and Phil Scrubb to earn minutes behind likely starter Nik Stauskas of the Philadelphia 76ers at shooting guard, with the edge possibly going to whoever Jay Triano trusts to play spot point guard minutes behind starter Cory Joseph and likely backup 18-year-old Jamal Murray.
Thompson will be hard to replace as Canada tries to earn one of two spots available in Rio next summer.
Typically, restricted free agents like Thompson don’t have a lot of leverage – the Cavaliers have the opportunity to match any offer and at this stage the only team with even a remote shot of signing Thompson to a max-type deal is the Portland Trail Blazers.
But a flood of new TV money is coming into the NBA and the salary cap is expected to surge from about $70 million this year to $90 million the year after and $108 million after that, which changes the equation. Signing a max deal next year or the year after could be more lucrative for Thompson than signing one now, and could outweigh the risk of playing on a one-year deal. Thompson turned down a four-year $52-million extension last year.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Thompson is seeking a five-year deal worth $94 million, while the Cavs are thought to be offering close to $80 million. A max deal for Thompson could cost them heavily in luxury tax penalties – as much as $35 million next year alone. If they call Paul’s bluff wait Thompson out they could save more than $20 million in tax and they would still be in position to give Thompson a richer deal than any other club a year from now. Would Thompson walk away from that too?
Maybe. Betting on himself could pay off long term. If Thompson signs a one-year deal for $6.8 million and hits free agency in 2016, an estimated 20 teams – including his hometown Toronto Raptors – will have enough money to sign a player that would likely be a coveted free agent at just 25. A four-year deal with a player option for the last year would allow Thompson to be a free agent again at age 28.
Paul is known for playing hardball on behalf of his clients – he guided Eric Bledsoe successfully through a similar negotiation with the Phoenix Suns last year – and Thompson has already shown himself bold enough to turn down a healthy extension, so this is one stalemate that could drag on for a while.
In the meantime one thing is certain: Tristan Thompson, one of Canada’s best, won’t be in uniform when the country takes on the best in Mexico City.