Tristan Thompson was one of the many players that avoided getting roped into the Kevin Love trade talks. While every team was pining after the Timberwolves forward, they were offering up their best assets in order to win a deal. Thompson is one of the Cleveland Cavaliers' best assets and with an expiring contract to his name he is even more tradable. However, he is still in Cleveland and expected to play a large role this season, but what happens when that contract is over?
There is a chance that Thompson will not be a starter next season. After acquiring both Love and LeBron James in the offseason, Thompson looks poised to start on the bench. There are ideas that he could start at center, but that is not a guarantee. However, just because Thompson does not walk out with the starting five does not mean he will not be playing a large amount of minutes. That will only increase his worth on the open market and make next summer very interesting.
Thompson will be a restricted free agency next summer and Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal believes he could get a similar treatment of the likes of Greg Monroe or Eric Bledsoe. Thompson could find that teams are unwilling to make a contract offer on the power forward for fear that the Cavaliers will simply match it.
Lloyd expects Thompson's contract demands to be upwards of $40 million in a new deal. That number will change depending on the type of season he turns in. If Thompson fails to prove himself, he is in for an offseason of free agency struggles whereas if he plays up to the standards that many believe he can, he could be in for a solid pay day with Cleveland or elsewhere. Thompson likely wants to avoid being forced into a one-year qualifying offer, but also will want a long-term contract.
The salary cap could be the issue for Thompson. The Cavaliers have to sign Love to an extension next summer. They also have to deal with giving James a new contract considering he has a player option for next year. Thompson is a star in the making and could be one of the next highly talented big men, but Cleveland might not have the money lying around that he is looking for.
