Tristan Thompson Will Leave the Cavaliers as a Free Agent on July 1, 2016, Agent Threatens

Tristan Thompson was a revelation for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2015 NBA playoffs after Kevin Love went down with a shoulder injury. Thompson averaged a double-double (11.8 ppg, 11.0 rpg) in a sweep of Atlanta, and then 10.0 ppg and 13.0 rpg in the Finals defeat against the Warriors.

Thompson did his best Dennis Rodman impression in the postseason, playing with a singular purpose offensively – cleaning the glass. He’s still very limited offensively, mostly able to convert shots in close, but he’s just 24-years old. Most importantly – his rookie deal is almost over, and he’s looking for a long-term max deal in Cleveland.

[It’s time to mention that Thompson shares an agent with LeBron James, aka, the franchise.]

Problem is, LeBron needed to get paid 1st. Love needed to get locked down 2nd. As offensively challenged as Cleveland was in the Finals and as strong as the team looked in the 2nd half of the season with Love, there was no way they could lose him. Kyrie Irving has a max deal. How can the Cavs afford Thompson at the price he’s demanding?

All of that leads to some of these tweets you may have seen today:

Tristan Thompson signing QO w/ #Cavs hasn't been decided yet, I'm told. But if he signs it, told it would be last season he plays as a Cav.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) August 10, 2015

"All I know is TT on Qualifying Offer will be his last year with the Cavs" -- Rich Paul on Tristan Thompson negotiations.
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) August 10, 2015

That’s Thompson’s agent trying to strike fear into the heart of Cavs fans: Make Thompson sign a qualifying offer, and he’s gone.

Not.
Gonna.
Happen.

The Cavs will have to get creative, but they’re going to keep Thompson for the long haul.